New Species Of Eimeria Research Articles

Eimeria cicaki sp. n. and Isospora thavari sp. n. from the house lizard Gehyra mutilata Boulenger in Malaysia.

Oocysts and endogenous stages of new species of Eimeria and Isospora from the house lizard, Gehyra mutilata, are described. The ellipsoid to subspherical 2-layered oocysts of E. cicaki averaged 24.0 X 21.0 mum. Polar granules are present. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. Ellipsoid sporocysts average 12.2 X 9.0 mum. A sporocyst residuum is present, but the Stieda body is absent. Endogenous stages are in epithelial cells of the small intestine. The subspherical single-layered oocysts of I. thavari average 23.8 X 22.8 mum. The polar granule is present; micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. Ellipsoid sporocysts average 12.8 X 9.4 mum. Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present. There are endogenous stages in epithelial cells of the small intestine.

Seven new Eimeria spp. (Protozoa, Coccidia) from freshwater fishes of Canada.

SYNOPSISSeven new species of Eimeria are described and figured from the freshwater fishes of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. They are Eimeria catostomi sp. n. and E. fernandoae sp. n. from Catostomus commersoni (Lacépède), E. etheostomae sp. n. from Etheostoma exile (Girard), E. hoffmani sp. n. from Umbra limi (Kirtland), E. micropteri sp. n. from Micropterus dolomieui Lacépède E. pungitii sp. n. from Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus), and E. salvelini sp. n. from Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). Furthermore, 2 new host records and 2 new distribution records for North America are reported for E. anguillae Léger & Hollande, 1922 and E. truttae Léger & Hesse, 1919 respectively. Finally, morphologically similar oocysts found in various cyprinids are regarded as belonging to E. iroquoina Molnar & Fernando, 1974.

Experimental infections of the domestic fowl with a variant of Eimeria praecox from the Ceylon jungle fowl.

A species of Eimeria from the Ceylon jungle fowl (Gallus lafayetti), at first thought to be a new species of Eimeria, has been identified as a strain of E. praecox. Oocysts of this jungle fowl strain were slightly larger than those of E. praecox, being 23·2 × 19·9 μm, but the endogenous stages were similar. The strain reproduced poorly in the domestic fowl but oocyst production was improved by treating the chickens with beta-methasone. A single infection of chickens with the strain of jungle fowl origin protected against challenge with the original culture and E. praecox, but did not cross-protect against E. acervulina. The name E. praecox var. ceylonensis is proposed for this strain of Eimeria.The criteria used to identify new species of Eimeria are discussed.

Coccidia (Protozoa, Eimeriidae) of the pikas Ochotona collaris, O. princeps, and O. hyperborea yesoensis.

Two new species of Eimeria and one of Isospora are described from the collared pika, Ochotona collaris, collected in the Yukon Territory, Canada. Oocysts of E. circumborealis n. sp. are ellipsoid to subspherical and measure 21–34 by 15–23 (26.6 by 20.2); sporocysts are ovoid, measuring 10–16 by 6–9 (13.4 by 8.2). A micropyle, diffuse polar granules, Stieda body, and sporocyst residua are present, Övoid oocysts of E. klondikensis n, sp. are 32–38 by 23–26(35.2 by 24,6); sporocysts are ovoid, measuring 14–16 by 8–10 (15.5 by 9.2). A prominent micropyle, polar granule, Stieda body, and sporocyst residua are present. Oocysts of I. yukonensis n. sp. are elongate ellipsoid, measuring 48–57 by 21–27 (52.4 by 23.3); sporocysts are ovoid measuring 26–29 by 12–14 (27.6 by 12.3). A Stieda body, substiedal body, and sporocyst residua are present. In addition, this is the first record of E. barretti, E. banffensis, E. calentinei, E. princepsis, and I. marquardti from O. collaris; and of E. circumborealis, E. calentinei, E. banffensis, E. klondikensis, E. princepsis, and E. worleyi from O. hyperborea yesoensis. All of the above species except I. yukonensis and E. worleyi were also found in O. princeps from southwestern Alberta; E. circumborealis and E. klondikensis are new host records for this pika.

Eimeria phocae sp. n. from the Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina Concolor)

Oocysts are 43.9 by 26.6 ,um with micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule. Gametogeny occurs in the colon and to a lesser degree in the distal ileum. The patent period is 11 days. Pathology involves bloody diarrhea, necrotizing hemorrhagic colitis, and death. It is the first protozoan parasite described from the harbor seal. No protozoan parasites have been reported from marine mammals in the literature including the comprehensive checklist of marine mammal parasites prepared by Dailey and Brownell (1972). The purpose of this paper is to describe a new coccidium, Eimeria phocae sp. n., which has been isolated and characterized from two young harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor). MATERIALS AND METHODS Two young harbor seals, 1 male and 1 female, estimated to be about 2 months of age, were captured in Portland, Maine, USA, on 20 June 1972. They were then transferred to the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, and housed together in the same tank. They were fed a ration of frozen mackerel. On 11 August 1972, the male died of severe coccidiosis after a 2-day illness. A complete necropsy was performed. On 4 September 1972, the female seal developed diarrhea and began passing large numbers of coccidial oocysts, which were uniform in shape, size, and color. The oocysts were identical to those found in the intestinal mucosal scrapings of the dead male tank-mate. Fresh fecal samples from this animal were collected at 8to 12-hr intervals until fecal examinations for oocysts were negative. The feces were homogenized in tap water, strained through a double layer of cheesecloth, and mixed with a thin layer of a 2.5% potassium dichromate solution in a petri dish which was incubated at 26 C for 1 week so that the oocysts could sporulate. The preparations were then microscopically examined for sporulation at 8to 10hr intervals. Sporulated oocysts were concentrated by flotation with Sheather's sugar solution, examined and measured microscopically under a 95 X apochromatic objective. Composite drawings were based on the details compiled from many oocysts. Received for publication 9 July 1973. RESULTS Oocysts of a new species of Eimeria were present in a pure infection in both harbor seals. Detailed descriptions and drawings of the oocysts (Fig. 1), gametogony stages, and pathogenicity are given below. Eimeria phocae sp. n. (Figs. 1-10) Description Unsporulated (Fig. 2) and sporulated oocysts (Figs. 3, 4) ellipsoidal or slightly ovoid. Oocyst

Some new Eimeria (Protozoa, Coccidia) from freshwater fishes in Ontario, Canada.

Twelve new species of Eimeria (Protozoa, Coccidia) have been described and figured from freshwater fishes in Ontario, Canada. They are Eimeria osmeri sp. nov., E. glenorensis sp. nov., E. freemani sp. nov., E. degiustii sp. nov., E. moronei sp. nov., E. hybognathi sp. nov., E. iroquoina sp. nov., E. ictaluri sp. nov., E. laureleus sp. nov., E. ojibwana sp. nov., E. haneki sp. nov., and E. tedlai sp. nov. This is the first published record on Coccidia in freshwater fishes in Canada.

Four new species of Eimeria and one of Tyzzeria from the Ceylon jungle fowl Gallus lafayettei.

SYNOPSISOne species of Tyzzeria and 4 new species of Eimeria are described from the Ceylon jungle fowl Gallus lafayettei. The sporulated oocysts of Tyzzeria galli sp. n. are 13.8 (12–15) μ m; of Eimeria lafayettei sp. n., 19.5 (19–21) X 14.2 (13.5–15) μ m; of Eimeria indentata sp. n., 30.3 (29.5–32) X 21.4 (20–22) μ m; of Eimeria symmetrica sp. n., 35 × 28.5 μ m, and of Eimeria dissanaikei sp. n., 21 (19–23) X 14 (12–16) μ m. E. indentata, E. symmetrica, and E. dissanaikei produced patent infections in domestic fowl but T. galli and E. lafayettei did not. This is the 1st record of the genus Tyzzeria from the order Galliformes.

Coccidia of Malaysian mammals: new host records and descriptions of three new species of Eimeria.

SYNOPSIS. In a survey of parasites of wild mammals of Malaysia 3 new species of Eimeria were found. Eimeria tupaiae sp. n. is described from the common tree shrew, Tupaia glis. Its ellipsoidal to spherical, 3‐layered oocysts average 20 × 19 μm. A micropyle is absent; an oocyst residuum and polar granule are present. Ellipsoidal sporocysts average 11 × 7 μm. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. Eimeria ptilocerci sp. n. is described from the pen‐tail tree shrew, Ptilocercus lowii. The ellipsoidal to spherical, 2‐layered oocysts average 23 × 20 μm. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent; polar granules are present. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 13 × 7 μm. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. Eimeria muuli sp. n. is described from the pencil‐tailed tree mouse, Chiropodomys gliroides. The ellipsoidal single‐layered oocysts average 25 × 19 μm. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent; a polar granule is present. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 13 × 8 μm. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. In addition, new host records are reported as follows: E. miyairii Ohira from Whitehead's rat Rattus whiteheadi and the Malaysian wood rat, R. tiomanicus; E. separata Becker & Hall from Mueller's rat, R. muelleri, the chestnut rat, R. fulvescens, and the Malaysian wood rat, R. tiomanicus; E. nieschulzi Dieben from the red spiny rat, R. surifer and the chestnut rat, R. fulvescens; and E. callosciuri Colley from the grey‐bellied squirrel, Callosciurus caniceps and the black‐banded squirrel, C. nigrovittatus.

New species of Eimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from Malaysian rats.

SYNOPSIS. Four new species of Eimeria were found in a survey of 255 rats of 14 species in Malaysia. E. tikusi n. sp. and E. edwardsi n. sp. are described from Edwards' rat Rattus edwardsi. The ellipsoidal, single‐layered oocysts of E. tikusi average 30.3 by 24.4 μ. A micropyle is absent; a polar granule is present. Ovoid sporocysts average 14.2 by 9.8 μ. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present. The ovoid, 2‐layered oocysts of E. edwardsi average 29.1 by 21.8 μ. A micropyle is present; a polar granule is absent. Ellipsoidal to ovoid sporocysts average 14.5 by 6.5 μ. A sporocyst residuum is present; Stieda body is small or absent. E. surifer n. sp. is described from the red spiny rat Rattus surifer. Its ellipsoidal 3‐layered oocysts average 34.7 by 24.8 μ. A micropyle is absent; a polar granule is present. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 15.4 by 9.5 μ. A sporocyst residuum, Stieda body and sub‐Stieda body are present. E. sabani n. sp. is described from the long‐tailed giant rat R. sabanus. Its ellipsoidal 2‐layered oocysts average 28.5 by 21.7 μ. A micropyle is absent; a polar granule is present. The ellipsoidal‐to‐ovoid sporocysts average 11.9 by 8.0 μ. A sporocyst residuum and Stieda body are present.

New species of Eimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from Malaysian squirrels.

SYNOPSIS. In a survey of 520 squirrels of 19 species from Malaysia, 6 new species of Eimeria were found. Three are described from the subfamily Petauristinae: E. kylopetis n. sp. from the red‐cheeked flying squirrel Hylopetes spadiceus; E. aeromysis n. sp. from the large black flying squirrel Aeromys tephromelas; E. malayensis n. sp. from the spotted giant flying squirrel Petaurista elegans. Three are described from the subfamily Sciurinae: E. hippuri n. sp. from the horse‐tailed squirrel Sundasciurus hippurus; and E. notati and E. pahangi n. spp. from the plantain squirrel Callosciurus notatus.

Eimeria lipura and E. landersi n. spp. (Protozoa, Eimeriidae) from the Long‐tailed Porcupine Trichys lipura Günther, 1876 in Malaysia1

SYNOPSIS. Oocysts of 2 new species of Eimeria are described from the long‐tailed porcupine Trichys lipura. The ovoid, 2‐layered oocysts of E. lipura average 33.1 by 24.4 μ. A micropyle and polar granules are present; an oocyst residuum is absent. Ovoid sporocysts average 10.9 by 9.3 μ. A sporcyst residuum is present; Stieda body is absent. The subspherical, 3‐layered oocyst of E. landersi averages 25.2 by 24.2 μ. An oocyst residuum is absent; a polar granule is present. Ovoid sporocysts average 11.7 by 7.9 μ. A sporcysts residuum is present; a Stieda body is absent.

New Species of Eimeria from Lizards of Japan

BOVEE, E. C. 1971. New species of Eimeria from lizards of Japan. Trans. Amer. Micros. Soc., 90: 336-343. Seven new species of Eimeria are described from Japanese lizards. Four are apparently intestinal residents, the oocysts being recovered from gut contents: Eimeria michikoa n. sp., from Gekko japonicus; E. telfordi n. sp., from Gehyra mutilata; E. rountreei n. sp., from Takydromus tachydromoides; E. sami, from Eumeces oshimensis. Three other species are inhabitants of the epithelium of the gall bladder and bile ducts of their respective hosts: E japonicis n. sp., from Gekko japonicus; E. pellopleuris n. sp., from Lygosoma pellopleurum; E. japaluris n. sp., from Japalura polygonata. There is no oocystic residuum, no polar body, no micropyle, nor Stieda body on sporocyst for any of these species.

Eimeria macusaniensis n. sp. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) of the alpaca Lama pacos.

SYNOPSIS. A new species of coccidium, Eimeria macusaniensis n. sp., is described from the alpaca Lama pacos in Macusani, Peru. The oocysts are ovoid to piriform, 81–107 by 61–80 μ (mean 93.6 by 67.4 μ) with a micropylar cap and elongate ovoid sporocysts 33–40 by 16–20 μ (mean 36.3 by 18.3 μ).

Eimeria reedi sp. n. and E. chobotari sp. n. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from Heteromyid Rodents

SYNOPSIS The oocysts of 2 new species of Eimeria are described from heteromyid rodents. The subspherical to ellipsoidal cocysts of Eimeria reedi from Perognathus formosus averaged 22.6 by 20.8 μ. An ellipsoidal polar granule was present. The oocyst residuum was a single globule about 8 μ in diameter. The ovoid sporocysts averaged 10.9 by 7.7 μ and had a residuum of 6‐12 granules. A Stieda body and substiedal body were present in the sporocysts. Eimeria chobotari oocysts, from Dipodomys merriami and D. microps, were ellipsoidal to ovoid and averaged 47.7 by 35.2 μ. No polar granule was seen. The large oocyst residuum consisted of several granules of various sizes. The ovoid sporocysts averaged 15.8 by 11.3 μ and had a residuum of many small granules. A Stieda body and substiedal body were present in the sporocysts.

Eimeria scriptae n. sp. (Sporozoa: Eimeriidae) from the red-eared turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans.

SYNOPSIS. A new species of Eimeria is described from the redeared turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans. The sporulated oocysts are ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, averaging 24.2 by 13.7 μ. A micropyle is present, rising slightly above the normal curvature of the wall. An oocyst residuum and polar body are absent. The sporocyst residuum is a compact mass of granules varying in number and size; less frequently the granules are loosely scattered in the central portion of the sporocyst. Rarely. the residuum appears bound by a thin membrane. The sporocysts are 11 by 5.9 μ.

Eimeria cascabeli sp. n. (Eimeriidae, Sporozoa) from Rattlesnakes, with a Review of the Species of Eimeria from Snakes

The species of Eimeria previously reported from snakes are reviewed and the information tabulated. A new species of Eimeria is described from the rattlesnakes, Crotalus viridis (Rafinesque) of northern Colorado and Crotalus viridis helleri Meek of southern California. Two schizogonous gen- erations and gametocytes were found in the epithelial cells lining the gall bladder and extrahepatic bile ducts. Sporulated oocysts were abundant in the bile. The sporulated oocysts and endogenous stages are described and illustrated. Attempts to transfer this parasite to sidewinders, Crotalus cerastes laterorepens (Hallowell), and garter snakes, Thamnophis sauritis (L.), were unsuccessful. Two new species incor- rectly identified by their authors are named.

Eimeria korros and E. modesta spp. n. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from a Snake and a Tree Shrew in South Vietnam

Two new coccidia are described from vertebrates of Vietnam: Eimeria korros sp. n. from a snake, Ptayas korros, and Eimeria modesta sp. n. from the tree shrew, Tupaia glis modesta. Endogenous reproduction of the snake Eimeria occurred in the gall bladder epithelium; in the tree shrew, endogenous stages were found in the terminal ileum. During the course of faunal surveys in the northern provinces of the Republic of South Vietnam in 1966, a number of snakes, lizards, and mammals were examined. Although vertebrates were collected for purposes other than the study of protozoal parasites, it was nevertheless possible to examine many stool and blood specimens to this end. Intestinal coccidia were found in the stools of a single specimen of a snake, Ptyas korros (Schlegel, 1837) and of several tree shrews, Tupaia glis modesta (J. Allen, 1906). The coccidia, both considered new species of Eimeria, are described in the present report. MATERIALS AND METHODS Animals were brought to the laboratory alive and were examined for intestinal parasites within 1 hr after killing. Screening for intestinal coccidia was by microscopic examination of an unconcentrated suspension of fresh feces from the rectum of mammals, or by examination of bile and intestinal contents in snakes and lizards. When the presence of coccidia was thus detected, unconcentrated suspensions of stool or bile in 3% potassium dichromate were kept in covered petri dishes and examined periodically for development. Surrounding temperatures varied between 70 F at night and 108 F in the daytime. Portions of the liver and gall bladder, and of the large and small intestine, were taken from the infected snake and from three infected tree shrews. Received for publication 31 May 1967. * The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the naval service at large. From the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, Research Task No. M4305.12-3004. Field work for this project was accomplished while the authors were assigned to the U. S. Navy Preventive Medicine Unit, Naval Support Activity, Danang, Vietnam. This material was fixed and preserved in formalin and later sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. All observations were made with a compound brightfield microscope. Measurements were taken on fresh material using a calibrated ocular micrometer, and drawings were prepared from sketches made with the aid of a camera lucida. Measurements are in microns, with means in parentheses following the range. DESCRIPTIONS OF PARASITES Eimeria korros sp. n.

Coccidia (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) of the alpaca Lama pacos.

SYNOPSIS. Three new species of coccidia are described from the alpaca Lama pacos from Peru. These are the first species of coccidia to be named from this host. The oocysts of Eimeria lamae n. sp. are ellipsoidal, occasionally ovoid, 30–40 by 21–30 μ (mean 35.6 by 24.5 μ) with elongate ovoid sporocysts 13–16 by 8–10 μ (mean 15.3 by 8.5 μ). The oocysts of Eimeria alpacae n. sp. are ellipsoidal, rarely ovoid, 22–26 by 18–21 μ (mean 24.1 by 19.6 μ), with ovoid sporocysts 10–13 by 7–8 μ (mean 11.0 by 6.8 μ). The oocysts of Eimeria punoensis n. sp. are ellipsoidal, occasionally ovoid, 17–22 by 14–18 μ (mean 19.9 by 16.4 μ), with ovoid sporocysts 8–11 by 5–7 μ (mean 9.2 by 6.1 μ).

New coccidia from Australian lizards. II. Eimeria.

Five new species of Eimeria are described, viz. E. ablephari from Ablepharus boutonii (Scincidae), E. egerniae from Egernia whitii (Scincidae), E. gehyrae from Gehyra variegata (Gekkonidae), E. lampropholidus from Lampropholis guichenoti and E. leiolopismatis from Leiolopisma challengeri. The characters of these species and the other coccidia from lizards are tabulated and a host check-list is given. Gall bladder parasitism is discussed as is the significance of complete sporogony occurring within the host's body. Some ideas concerning the possible events occurring in the evolution of the Haemosporina are presented.I wish to thank Miss J. Arnold of the Zoology Department, University of Western Australia, for her identification of many of the lizards and Miss S. Curtis for her drawings. Finally I wish to thank Dr H. M. D. Hoyte, Department of Parasitology, University of Queensland, for his interest and helpful criticism of the manuscript.

Eimeria duodenalis sp.nov. from English covert pheasants (Phasianus sp.)

A new species of coccidium E. duodenalis sp.nov., has been described, from the pheasant. It is characterized by the subspherical shape of the oocyst, the lack of polar granules and the presence of large sporocystic residual bodies. Endogenous stages are found in the epithelial cells lining the villi, and occur chiefly in the duodenum and upper intestine. Second-generation merozoites form gametocytes and/or third-generation schizonts. The prepatent period is 5 days.E. duodenalis is moderately pathogenic, doses of 50 000 oocysts causing a 30% mortality and a significant weight loss in the survivors. Treatment with a range of sulphonamides in the drinking water was successful as was preventive treatment with Sulphaquinoxaline mixed with the food.Acknowledgements are due to Mr S. F. M. Davies for initiating this programme and carrying out a number of the animal inoculations, to Dr Helen Hein for help and advice in the design of the experiments and to Dr L. P. Joyner for advice in the preparation of the manuscript. The author also wishes to thank Miss C. N. Hebert for the statistical analysis of weight gains and Mr M. A. Peirce, Mr G. L. Choon, Miss J. Saddington and Miss M. Blore for technical assistance.