Intestinal Coccidia (Eimeriidae, Coccidia) of Synanthrophic Animals of the Urban Population

Abstract

Intracellular parasitic protozoa (Protozoa) have been found in many vertebrates inhabiting various natural regions of the Earth. Numerous parasitic protozoa have been found in vertebrates in Azerbaijan, including representatives of the eimeriid coccidia (Eimeriorina: Coccidia: Apicomplexa, Protozoa). Among them, representatives of the genera Cryptosporidium(zoonoses) and Eimeria (highly specific) have the greatest practical significance in animal husbandry and medicine. Synanthropes, especially inhabitants of the urbanized ecosystem, are in contact with domestic animals and humans, which contributes to the exchange of ecto- and endoparasites between them. The article presents the results of studies of coccidia infection of synanthropic animals in Baku and its environs. And an attempt was made to find out whether wild animals are reservoirs of opportunistic pathogens. The research material was oocysts of eimeriid coccidia found in the faeces of synanthropic animals. Fecal samples of the studied animals were collected in their habitats. A total of 286 fecal samples from 6 species of animals were examined: 72 birds (12 European herring gulls and 60 rock doves), 161 rodents (54 brown rats and 107 house mice), domestic dogs and cats — 25 and 28, respectively. All studied animals were infected with cryptosporidium. Eimeria oocysts were found only in rodents and one rock dove. Based on morphometric parameters, it can be argued that the cryptosporidium oocysts found in mammals are C. parvum-like and C. muris-like, in rock doves C. parvum-like, C. galli-like. Single cryptosporidium oocysts found in gulls were not diagnosed. Eimeria oocysts found from rats match E. miyairii in morphometric characteristics, and two different types of Eimeria oocysts — Eimeria sp. 1 and Eimeria sp. 2 are supposed to be new species. Eimeria oocysts found by us in mice correspond in their size and morphology to E. krijgsmanni.