Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora</Emphasis> Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporophila frontalis</Emphasis> Verreaux (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in South America

Three new coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verraux in Brazil are reported in the current study. Isospora frontalis n. sp. oöcysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 27.9 × 26.9 μm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall c.1.4 μm thick. A micropyle and an oöcyst residuum are absent, but polar granules are present. Sporocysts are elongate ellipsoidal, 19.6 × 11.1 μm. The Stieda body is knob-like and the substieda body is slight. The sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules, and the sporozoites are vermiform with a refractile body and a nucleus. Isospora teresopoliensis n. sp. oöcysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 25.7 × 24.3 μm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall 1.3 μm thick. A micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoid, 18.8 × 11.2 μm. The Stieda body is nipple-shaped and the substieda body is large and prominent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules, and the sporozoites are large and elongate, with a refractile body and nucleus. Oöcysts of Isospora chanchaoi n. sp. are spherical to sub-spherical or ovoid, 24.2 × 22.0 μm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall c.1.2 μm thick. Both a micropyle and an oöcyst residuum are absent, but one or two polar granules are present. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 16.1 × 10.3 μm. The Stieda body is nipple-shaped and the substieda body is small but prominent. The sporocyst residuum forms a compact mass of granules, and the sporozoites are large and elongate, with a refractile body and a nucleus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eimeria maricopensis</Emphasis> n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Arizona cotton rat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sigmodon arizonae</Emphasis> Mearns (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in central Arizona,USA

Eimeria maricopensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is described from 2 of 15 (13%) Arizona cotton rats Sigmodon arizonae Mearns in Arizona, USA. Sporulated oöcysts of this new species are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 20–28 × 16–22 (24.9 × 19.2) µm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but fragmented polar granule material is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 11–14 × 6–8 (12.9 × 7.0) µm, with a Stieda body, sub-Stieda body, and sporocyst residuum; sporozoites are elongate with a spheroidal anterior refractile body and a subspheroidal posterior refractile body. In addition, sporulated oöcysts of Eimeria sigmodontis Barnard, Ernst & Dixon, 1974, Eimeria tuskegeensis Barnard, Ernst & Dixon, 1974 and Eimeria webbae Barnard, Ernst & Dixon, 1974 are described from S. arizonae. This is the first report on the coccidia of S. arizonae.     

Two new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from ground skinks,Scincella lateralis (Sauria: Scincidae), from Arkansas,USA

Between February 2011 and January 2014, 75 ground skinks, Scincella lateralis (Say) were collected from 13 counties of Arkansas and McCurtain County, Oklahoma, USA, and examined for coccidia. Two (3%) and 11 (15%) S. lateralis were found to be passing oöcysts of a new choleoeimerian and isosporan, respectively. Oöcysts of Choleoeimeria ouachitensis n. sp. are ellipsoidal to cylindroidal with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall and measure 27.2 × 15.6 μm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.7; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but 1–2 polar granule(s) are present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 8.9 × 6.8 μm, L/W 1.3; neither Stieda, sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are present; the walls have two valves joined by longitudinal sutures; a sporocyst residuum consisted of dispersed granules between sporozoites. Oöcysts of Isospora koberi n. sp. are ovoidal with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall and measure 25.1 × 20.5 μm, L/W 1.2; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is rarely present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 11.4 × 8.6 μm, L/W 1.3; a nipple-like Stieda body and a sub-Stieda body are present without a para-Stieda body; a sporocyst residuum consisted of condensed granules dispersed between sporozoites. This is the second choleoeimerian and third isosporan reported from S. lateralis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eimeria abmitu</Emphasis> n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the razor-billed curassow <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mitu tuberosum</Emphasis> Spix (Galliformes: Cracidae)

A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from a cracid bird, Mitu tuberosum Spix, held in captivity is described from Brazil. Oöcysts of Eimeria abmitu n. sp. are ovoid, with a smooth, colourless, bilayered wall, measure 24.2 × 15.5 μm and have a length/width ratio of 1.56. The sporulated oöcysts contain two to five polar granules and four ellipsoidal sporocysts measuring 13.6 × 6.4 μm, each with a small crescent-shaped Stieda body, a sub-Stieda body, a loosely granular sporocyst residuum and two comma-shaped sporozoites each with a spherical refractile body.     

Two new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from emerald tree skinks, Lamprolepis smaragdina (Lesson) (Sauria: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines

Two new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875, from emerald tree skinks, Lamprolepis smaragdina (Lesson) are described from specimens collected in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Philippines. Oöcysts of Eimeria nuiailan n. sp. from the only L. smaragdina from PNG are ovoidal, with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall, measure 23.7 × 19.1 μm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.3; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a fragmented polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 11.9 × 7.0 μm, L/W 1.7, and the wall is composed of two valves joined by a longitudinal suture; neither Stieda nor sub-Stieda bodies are present; a sporocyst residuum is present as a compact mass of granules. Sporozoites are elongate, 14.6 × 2.6 μm, and contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies with a nucleus between them. Oöcysts of Eimeria auffenbergi n. sp. from L. smaragdina collected in the Philippines are ovoidal, with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall, measure 19.9 × 15.8 μm, L/W 1.3; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but one to four polar granules are present. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 10.3 × 5.8 μm, L/W 1.8, and the wall is composed of two valves joined by a longitudinal suture; neither Stieda nor sub-Stieda bodies are present; a sporocyst residuum is composed of dispersed granules.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora bocamontensis</Emphasis> n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the yellow cardinal <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gubernatrix cristata</Emphasis> (Vieillot) (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in South America

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is reported from the endangered yellow cardinal Gubernatrix cristata (Vieillot) in southern Brazil. Isospora bocamontensis n. sp. has oöcysts which are subspheroidal, measure 32.1 × 28.9 μm and have a smooth, bilayered wall c.1.5 μm thick. The micropyle and the oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is sometimes present. Its sporocysts are ellipsoidal and 17.3 × 12.2 μm in size and contain a half-moon-shaped Stieda body, a prominent, homogeneous substieda body; and a sporocyst residuum composed of a compact mass of granules. The sporozoites have one refractile body and a nucleus.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora</Emphasis> Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the twist-necked turtle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platemys platycephala</Emphasis> (Schneider) (Testudines: Chelidae) in Brazil

A new coccidian species of the genus Isospora Schneider 1881 (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) is reported from a single specimen of chelid turtle, Platemys platycephala (Schneider, 1792), obtained in a flooded area of the Amazonian municipality of Altamira, in Pará State, northern Brazil. The oöcysts of Isospora platemysi n. sp. are subspheroidal, 19.0–24.0 × 22.5–18.5 (22.6 × 20.8) µm in size [length/width ratio 1.0–1.1 (1.1)], with a colourless wall, 1.0–1.9 (1.4) wide, with two smooth layers; polar granule is present, oöcyst residuum and micropyle are both absent. The sporocyst is ovoidal, 10.0–12.1 × 8.0–10.0 (11.0 × 9.1) µm [length/width ratio 1.1–1.3 (1.2), with a knob-like Stieda body. Sub-Stieda body is present, rounded irregular-trapezoidal; para-Stieda body is absent. Sporocyst residuum is dispersed and composed of granules of differing sizes. This is only the fifth record of Isospora in chelonians, and the first report of a coccidian parasite of the genus Platemys.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora lopesi</Emphasis> n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the eastern white-throated spadebill <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platyrinchus mystaceus</Emphasis> Vieillot (Passeriformes: Tyranni: Tyrannidae) in South America

A species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) considered as new to science is described and characterised molecularly from the eastern white-throated spadebill Platyrinchus mystaceus Vieillot in the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, southeastern Brazil. Isospora lopesi n. sp. has oöcysts that are subspheroidal to ovoidal, 18–24 × 18–22 (20.6 × 19.7) µm, with smooth, bilayered wall, c.1.5 μm thick. Micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but one polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 12–16 × 8–11 (14.4 × 8.6) µm. The Stieda body is flattened to half-moon-shaped and sub-Stieda body is rounded. Sporocyst residuum is present, consisting of numerous spherules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with anterior and posterior refractile bodies and nucleus. Molecular analysis was conducted at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. This new isolate exhibited similarity greater than 98% with Isospora spp. isolates from spectacled warblers Sylvia conspicillata Temminck, 1820. This is the fourth isosporoid coccidian described from New World tyrannid birds, but is the first to have a complementary molecular characterisation.     

Five new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from the endangered Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Caprinae) in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Area of Qinghai Province,China

We examined faeces of 76 endangered Tibetan antelopes Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel) in May 2017, from the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, Qinghai Province, China, and found 62/76 (82%) discharging oöcysts representing five new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875. Oöcysts of Eimeria pantholopensis n. sp., found in 54/76 (71%) chiru, are subspheroidal/ellipsoidal, 15–22 × 12–19 (18.6 × 16.1) µm, with a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.0–1.3 (1.2); micropyle cap and 1–3 polar granules are present, but oöcyst residuum is absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 7–11 × 4–6 (9.2 × 5.3) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.6–2.0 (1.7); Stieda body and sporocyst residuum of small, scattered granules are present; each sporozoite contains 2 refractile bodies. Oöcysts of Eimeria wudaoliangensis n. sp. found in 52/76 (68%) chiru, are pyriform, 21–29 × 17–21 (24.9 × 19.0) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.1–1.5 (1.3); micropyle, micropyle cap and 1–4 polar granules are present, but oöcyst residuum is absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 9–13 × 5–8 (11.7 × 6.7) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.4–2.7 (1.7); Stieda body and sporocyst residuum of disbursed granules are present; sporozoites have a single large refractile body. Oöcysts of Eimeria hodgsonii n. sp. found in 20/76 (26%) chiru, are elongate-ellipsoidal, 25–32 × 18–21 (28.9 × 19.8) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.2–1.7 (1.5); micropyle, micropyle cap and 1–3 polar granules are present, but oöcyst residuum is absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 11–14 × 6–7 (12.3 × 6.8) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.7–2.1 (1.8); Stieda body and sporocyst residuum as group of large granules lying along the interface between intertwined sporozoites are present; sporozoites have 2 refractile bodies. Oöcysts of Eimeria schalleri n. sp. found in 49/76 (64.5%) chiru, are ellipsoidal, 26–36 × 19–25 (30.4 × 23.2) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.2–1.5 (1.3); micropyle with micropyle cap and polar granules appearing as many diffuse tiny bodies are present, but oöcyst residuum is absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 12–16 × 7–9 (14.2 × 7.8) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.6–2.1 (1.8); Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present, the latter as a group of small dispersed granules between intertwined sporozoites; sporozoites with 2 refractile bodies. Oöcysts of Eimeria sui n. sp. found in 4/76 (5%) chiru, are ovoidal, 32–38 × 26–30 (36.6 × 28.6) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.0–1.4 (1.3); micropyle and micropyle cap and 1–3 polar granules are present, but oöcyst residuum is absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 15–18 × 8–10 (16.7 × 8.9) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.7–2.1 (1.9); Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present, the latter as a group of dispersed small granules; sporozoites with 2 refractile bodies. Five of 62 faecal samples in which oöcysts were detected (8%) had a single species infection, 13 of 62 (21%) had two species, 28 of 62 (45%) had three species and 16 of 62 (26%) had four species.

     

A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Solomon ground skink, Sphenomorphus solomonis (Boulenger) (Sauria: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea

Between September 1990 and November 1991, 19 Sphenomorphus spp. skinks, including nine S. jobiense, three S. simus, and seven Solomon ground skinks, S. solomonis (Boulenger), were collected from Madang and Morobe Provinces, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and examined for coccidia. A single S. solomonis was found to be infected with a new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875. Oöcysts of Eimeria perkinsae n. sp. are ellipsoidal with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall, measure 18.6 × 14.7 μm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.3; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a fragmented polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 8.9 × 6.4 μm, L/W 1.4; neither Stieda, sub-Stieda or para-Stieda bodies are present; a sporocyst residuum consisted of a loose cluster of granules dispersed between sporozoites. Sporozoites are comma-shaped with spheroidal anterior and posterior refractile bodies. This represents the first report of coccidia from this skink genus.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eimeria</Emphasis> Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gerbilliscus guineae</Emphasis> Thomas (Rodentia: Gerbillinae) in the Niokolo Koba National Park,Senegal

We describe two new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from the gerbiline rodent Gerbilliscus guineae in the Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal. Faecal examination of samples revealed the presence of sporulated oöcysts of two eimerian coccidia, both possessing an oöcyst residuum. Eimeria permira n. sp. is remarkable in terms of oöcyst size and oöcyst wall texture. Sporulated oöcysts are ellipsoidal, 45.8 (42–50) × 32.5 (31–38) μm; the oöcyst wall is 3–4 μm thick, composed of three layers, with the outer layer sheathed by rough granular material; and the sporocysts are broadly ellipsoidal, 15.4 (15–16) × 11 and with a Stieda body present. Oöcysts of Eimeria gerbillisci n. sp. are subspherical, 22.5 (19.5–24) × 18.8 (16.5–20) μm, with a colourless, faintly granulated oöcyst wall 1.5 thick; and the sporocysts are 10.1 (10–12) × 6.7 (6–8), broadly ellipsoidal and often somewhat pointed towards both ends.     

A new caryosporan (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from flat-headed snake,Tantilla gracilis (Reptilia: Ophidia: Colubridae), from McCurtain County,Oklahoma, USA

The flat-headed snake, Tantilla gracilis Baird and Girard is a small reptile belonging to the family Colubridae. Feces from a single T. gracilis from McCurtain County, Oklahoma, USA, was collected and examined for coccidia; it was found to be passing a new species of Caryospora. Oöcysts of Caryospora sargentae n. sp. are spheroidal to typically subspheroidal with a moderately-pitted bi-layered wall, measure (L × W) 20.7 × 19.2 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1; a micropyle and oöcyst residuum were absent but one to several small, irregular to spheroidal masses of non-refractile debris within the oocyst was present as well as a polar granule attached to the inner oöcyst wall. Sporocysts are ovoidal and measure 15.0 × 11.0 µm, L/W 1.4; a nipple-like Stieda body is present as well as a distinct rounded sub-Stieda body. The sporocyst residuum is composed of a large, dense, irregular mass of various sized granules located between and often obscuring the sporozoites. This is the third coccidian described from the flat-headed snake. In addition, we include some data on the endogenous development of the coccidian.

     

Choleoeimeria ghaffari n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the gallbladder of Eryx jayakari Boulenger (Serpentes: Boidae) in Saudi Arabia

Choleoeimeria ghaffari n. sp. is described from the gallbladder of Eryx jayakari Boulenger in Saudi Arabia. Oöcysts are tetrasporocystic, cylindroidal, 23 × 14 μm, with a smooth bi-layered wall and length/width ratio of 1.5, without micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule. Sporocysts are subspheroidal to ellipsoidal, 8 × 6 μm, with length/width ratio of 1.4, without Stieda, sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies but with sporocyst residuum. Sporozoites are banana-shaped measuring 10 × 1.5 μm. The endogenous development was found to occur in the gallbladder epithelium and the extrahepatic bile ducts. Mature meronts are spheroidal, c.10 μm wide, and suspected to produce 12–16 merozoites. Microgamonts are irregular in shape, 13 × 10 μm, whereas macrogamonts are mostly subspheroidal, c.12 μm wide, with a prominent centrally-located nucleus. Based on oöcyst morphology and the site of endogenous development (epithelium of the gallbladder and bile ducts) the new eimeriid coccidian was placed in the genus Choleoeimeria Paperna & Landsberg, 1989.     

Two new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the flap-necked chameleon Chamaeleo dilepis (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae) in the Republic of Namibia

Two new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 from flap-necked chameleons Chamaeleo dilepis Leach are described from the faeces of specimens collected in the Republic of Namibia. O?cysts of Isospora freedi n. sp. from one of four (25%) C. dilepis collected in the East Caprivi District are spherical to subspherical, with a smooth, colourless, bilayered wall, measure 23.7?×?21.2?μm and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1. The micropyle and the o?cyst residuum are absent but a polar granule is sometimes present. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal and 13.9?×?10.3?μm in size with prominent Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies; and the sporocyst residuum is composed of a compact mass of large globules. The sporozoites contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies with a nucleus between them. O?cysts of Isopora mandelai n. sp. from three of seven (43%) C. dilepis collected in the Outjo District are ellipsoidal to cylindroidal, with a smooth, colourless, bilayered wall, measure 36.9?×?31.0?μm and have an L/W ratio of 1.2. The micropyle, o?cyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 15.3?×?11.1?μm in size and contain Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies; and the non-membranous sporocyst residuum is composed of granules of various sizes. The sporozoites contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies with a nucleus between them. These two new taxa represent the third and fourth coccidian species reported from C. dilepis.     

A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Carlia spp. (Sauria: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea

A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from rainbow skinks, Carlia ailanpalai Zug and Carlia eothen Zug is described from specimens collected in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Oöcysts of Eimeria zugi n. sp. from one of one (100%) C. eothen are ellipsoidal to cylindroidal, with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall, measure 25.1 × 15.5 μm and have a length/width ratio of 1.6. The micropyle and the oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. The sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal and 10.3 × 7.1 μm in size and do not contain Stieda, sub-Stieda or para-Stieda bodies; and the sporocyst residuum is composed of a compact mass of large globules. The sporozoites are elongate, 12.8 × 2.9 μm in size, and contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies with a nucleus between them. This is the ninth species of coccidium described from skinks from PNG, and the new species described herein is apparently endemic to the skink genus Carlia (Gray).     

A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the dusky rice rat Melanomys caliginosus (Tomes) (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Costa Rica

We collected faecal samples from 24 dusky rice rats, Melanomys caliginosus (Tomes) (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae), in a Biological Reserve in Costa Rica, and found three (12.5%) to be infected with a species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875, which we describe here as new. Sporulated oöcysts of Eimeria caliginosa n. sp. are almost spheroidal and measure 16–21 × 17–20 (mean 19.6 × 18.2) μm; micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 9–13 × 6–8 (mean 11.2 × 6.7) μm, with small Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies present, but a para-Stieda body is absent; the sporocyst residuum is a compact mass of c.11–15 granules, c.5 μm wide. Sporozoites are crescent-shaped, 5–8 × 2–3 (mean 6.8 × 2.4) μm. This is the third species of Eimeria described from the genus Melanomys Thomas.