Coccidian Parasites from Iowa Turtles: Systematics and Prevalence*

SYNOPSIS. A survey of 22 Western Painted Turtles (WPT), Chrysemys picta belli Gray; 2 Map Turtles (MT), Graptemys geographica Le Sueur; 8 False Map Turtles (FMT), Graptemys pseudogeographica Gray; 26 Illinois Mud Turtles (IMT), Kinosternon flavescens spooneri Smith; and 5 Spiny Softshell Turtles (SST), Trionyx spiniferus Le Sueur, revealed the presence of 10 species of coccidia. The species found, the shape and average length-width dimensions (in micrometers) of their oocysts, and the respective hosts from which they were isolated were as follows: Eimeria chrysemydis Deeds & Jahn, slightly pear-shaped (27.6 × 17.0), from 5 WPTs; Eimeria delagei marginata Deeds & Jahn, markedly pearshaped (22.1 × 17.6), from 2 WPTs, 1 MT, and 3 FMTs; Eimeria graptemydos sp. n., broadly ellipsoid to subspherical (12.6 × 11.4), from 10 WPTs, 2 MTs, and 5 FMTs; Eimeria lutotestudinis sp. n., broadly ellipsoid to subspherical (11.9 × 10.8), from 4 IMTs; Eimeria mascoutini sp. n., broadly ellipsoid to subspherical with outer surface of oocyst wall mammillated (14.0 × 11.9), from 2 SSTs; Eimeria mitraria (Laveran & Mesnil), asymmetrically ellipsoid, bearing 1 or 2 conical projections at the polar end and 2 or 3 at the antipolar end (10.0 × 7.6), from 7 WPTs, 1 MT, 3 FMTs, and 4 IMTs; Eimeria pseudogeographica sp. n., narrowly ellipsoid to slightly ovoid (19.5 × 13.5), from 5 WPTs and 3 FMTs; Eimeria tetradacrutata sp. n., spherical to subspherical with outer surface of oocyst wall mammillated (19.5 × 19.2), from 1 WPT; an Eimeria sp. narrowly ellipsoid, bearing 2 conical projections at the polar end and 2 at the antipolar end (23.8 × 13.2), from 1 MT; and Mantonella hammondi sp. n., conical to narrowly ellipsoid, bearing 1 conical projection at the polar end and 2 or 3 at the antipolar end (14.3 × 7.1), from 1 IMT. The overall infection rate for the 63 turtles examined was 54.0%.     

Two New Species of Eimeria from Colubrid Snakes in Iowa*

SYNOPSIS. Oocysts of Eimeria natricis sp. n. and Eimeria sipedon sp. n. were isolated from 2 Northern Water Snakes, Natrix sipedon sipedon (Linnaeus), in Iowa. Oocysts of E. natricis were elongate, slightly ovoid, averaging in size 32.3 × 17.5 μm; sporocysts averaged 15.7 × 8.2 μm. Oocysts of E. sipedon were broadly ovoid averaging in size 18.0 × 15.9 μm; sporocysts averaged 12.0 × 7.4 μm. In both species, sporocyst residua were present, but micropyles, polar granules and oocyst residua were lacking.     

Additional Notes on the Coccidian Parasites of the Soft-shell Turtle,Trionyx spiniferus Le Sueur,in Iowa,with a Description of Eimeria vesicostieda sp. n.*

SYNOPSIS Oocysts of Eimeria dericksoni Roudabush, Eimeria mascoutini Wacha & Christiansen, and Eimeria vesicostieda sp. n. were isolated from the Spiny Soft-shell Turtle, Trionyx spiniferus LeSueur, in Iowa. The sporulated oocysts of E. dericksoni are redescribed to include, for the first time, the dimensions of the sporocysts (6.0–8.5 × 3.0–5.0 μm) and the structural appearance of the Stieda body (thinly convex); the oocysts of E. vesicostieda are newly described as being thickwalled, narrowly ovoid to narrowly ellipsoid, measuring 22.0–25.5 × 16.5–20.5 μm. and having a polar granule, a sporocyst residuum, and a vesicle-like Stieda body; the oocysts of E. mascoutini are documented photographically.     

Coccidian Parasites of Intertidal Fishes from Wales: Systematics, Development, and Cytochemistry

SYNOPSIS. Examination of littoral fish Blennius pholis and Cottus bubalis caught at Aberystwyth and Porth Cwyfan, Wales. U.K., revealed 2 species of coccidia.
Eimeria dingleyi sp. n. Oocysts spherical (16.1–19.2) to subspherical (13.9–14.2 × 18.8–20.0) μm, with thin walls; sporulation outside the host to produce ellipsoid sporocysts; endogenous phases in epithelial cells throughout intestine; 26 of 58 B. pholis infected.
Eimeria variabilis (Thélohan) Reichenow. Oocysts spherical (11.9–14.6) to subspherical (9.2–10.9 × 13.9–14.3) μm; sporulation in lining of pyloric ceca and rectum; previously unrecorded schizonts and gametocytes present; 21 of 25 C. bubalis infected.
Electron microscopy revealed that the oocyst wall of E. variabilis consists of a thin membrane whereas the sporocyst wall is thick and 3-layered. Typical oocyst wall-forming bodies were absent from the macrogamete. Cytochemical tests on the endogenous stages of E. dingleyi and E. variabilis indicated that in general they resembled other coccidia in their chemical constitution.     

Seven New Eimeria spp. (Protozoa,Coccidia) from Freshwater Fishes of Canada*

Seven 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.     

Eimeria filamentifera sp. n. from the Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina (Linné), in Iowa

SYNOPSIS. Oocysts of Eimeria filamentifera sp. n. were isolated from 2 of 2 snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina (Linné), in Iowa. The ovoid to ellipsoid oocysts of this species averaged 23.2 × 18.6 μm and had a length/width ratio ranging from 1.1 to 1.6. The ellipsoid sporocysts averaged 14.0 × 7.7 μm and had papillose, filament-bearing Stieda bodies. Oocyst and sporocyst residua were present, but micropyle and polar granule were not. This appears to be the 2nd species of Eimeria reported from snapping turtles, with E. chelydrae being the first.     

Four New Species of Eimeria and One of Tyzzeria from the Ceylon Jungle Fowl Gallus lafayettei*

One 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.     

New Family,Genus, and Species of Microsporida (Protozoa: Microsporida) from the Tropical Fire Ant,Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (Insecta: Formicidae)*

SYNOPSIS. A new species of Microsporida, Burenella dimorpha sp. n., representing a new family, Burenellidae fam. n. and genus, is described on the basis of light- and electron-microscope observations. The family is characterized by 2 sequences of sporogony, each sequence having morphologically different sporonts and spores. The parasite infects the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius), producing distinct pathologic manifestations (clearing of the cuticle and eye malformation) and death in the pupal stage of development. Transmission of the infection per os to healthy S. geminata, to the Southern fire ant, Solenopsis xyloni McCook, and to the red and black imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri Forel, is reported.     

Malaria Parasites of the “Borriguerro'’Lizard,Ameiva ameiva (Sauria: Teiidae) in Panama*

SYNOPSIS. The teiid lizard Ameiva ameiva praesignis in Panama is parasitized by 2 species of Plasmodium: P. cnemidophori Carini and P. diminutivum sp. n. The Panamanian strain of P. cnemidophori has thick macrogametocytes which are larger than the oval microgametocytes, and schizonts which contain 42–119 nuclei. P. diminutivum is characterized by round to oval gametocytes which are usually smaller than the host cell nucleus; fan-shaped schizonts with 4–6 nuclei; and prominently vacuolated young stages, with a thick band of chromatin along the periphery of the vacuole.     

Trypanosoma pacifica sp. n. from the English Sole Parophrys vetulus Girard from Oregon*

Trypanosoma pacifica sp. n. is described from the blood of the English sole, Parophrys vetulus Girard, from Oregon. The total length averages 35.9 μm of which 15.4 μm is free flagellum. Comparisons are made with other trypanosomes reported from related species of fishes and with those reported from marine fishes adjacent to North America.     

Revision and Checklist of the Species (Other Than Lecudina) of the Aseptate Gregarine Family Lecudinidae*

SYNOPSIS. A checklist is given of the 89 named species of the gregarine family Lecudininae, exclusive of the 42 named species of the genus Lecudina (phylum Apicomplexa. class Sporozoea, subclass Gregarinia, order Eugregarinida, suborder Aseptatina). The list includes also the synonyms, host names, locations in hosts, known geographic distributions of the species, as well as key references. Another list is given of synonyms, lapsi calami, nomina nuda, etc., associated with the genera. A new genus, Paraophioidina g. n., with type species, Paraophioidina haeckeli (Mingazzini, 1891) and a new species, Lankesteria ormieresi sp. n., are described. There are also new combinations in the genera Bhatiella, Ancora, Monocystella, Ascocystis, and Paraophioidina.     

Ciliate Protozoa in the Rumen of Brazilian Water Buffalo,Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus*

SYNOPSIS Total numbers and distribution of genera, subgenera and species were determined for the ciliate protozoa in rumen contents of 4 Brazilian water buffalo Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus. The fauna of one animal, housed in close proximity to European and zebu-type cattle, differed considerably from that of the remaining animals, which were somewhat isolated on a large ranch. Several of the protozoan species observed in the semi-isolated animals were first described in rumen contents from humped Indian cattle, and their subsequent occurrence in other hosts and geographic locations has been limited or absent. In all, 49 different species of protozoa were found, 8 of which have not been previously described. Three of the new species belong to the genus Entodinium: E. ciculum sp. n., E. spinonucleatum sp. n. and E. triangulum sp. n.: 4 to Diplodinium (Ostracodinium): D. (O.) brazili sp. n., D. (O.) esalqum sp. n., D. (O.) nucleolobum sp. n., and D. (O.) tiete sp. n.; and one to Diplodinium (Eudiplodinium): D. (E.) bubalus sp. n.     

Eimeria crotalviridis sp. n. from Prairie Rattlesnakes, Crotalus viridis viridis, in New Mexico with Data on Excystation of Sporozoites and Ultrastructure of the Oocyst Wall

SYNOPSIS Oocysts of Eimeria crotalviridis sp. n. are described from prairie rattlesnakes, Crotalus viridis viridis in New Mexico on the basis of light and electron microscopy and in vitro excystation of sporozoites. Sporulated oocysts of E. crotalviridis are elliptical, 26.4 × 22.3 (23–29 × 20–24) μm with ovoid sporocysts 11.7 × 8.1 (11–13 × 7–9) μm. A micropyle, micropyle cap and polar bodies are absent, but oocyst and sporocyst residua and Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Excysted sporozoites are 12.4 × 2.8 (11–13 × 2–3) μm and have 1 large posterior refractile body and a nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Ultrastructurally, the oocyst wall has 2 layers, a thick, electron-dense, highly sculptured outer layer composed of a fine granular matrix and a thin, granular, osmiophilic inner layer, separated from the outer layer by at least one unit membrane. These layers are 441 (353–510) and 21.6 (19–29) nm thick, respectively. Within 15 min after exposure to a trypsin-sodium taurocholate fluid, sporozoites of E. crotalviridis excysted from 5-month-old sporocysts.     

Prevalence and Morphology of Eimeria gadi (Fiebiger, 1913) in the Haddock

SYNOPSIS. The coccidian parasite Eimeria gadi was found in the haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus , taken from the Nova Scotian fishing banks. The haddock infection rates ranged from a high of 58% on Emerald Bank to a low of 4% on Georges Bank, the average being 32%. There was no relationship between sex and degree or prevalence of infection. Although the probability of an occurrence of infection increased with size, small fish with heavy infections were observed. The degree of infection had no apparent effect on the condition factor (length/weight) of the fish. The infection rate reached a maximum in the fall of the year while the heaviest infections were observed in the spring. It is evident from the data that the infection is fatal.
The parasite mass, appearing as a creamy viscous to a yellow semisolid material in the swimbladder, consisted of various parasite stages, fibrous and cellular debris, and lipid material. Some aspects of the sporocyst stage are described.
No other gadoids from the Nova Scotian banks were found to be infected; however, a single specimen of the fourbeard rockling, Enchelyopus cimbrius , from St. John's, Newfoundland, was found to be heavily infected with E. gadi.     

Coccidia from the Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, in Northeastern Colorado and in Northern New Mexico

SYNOPSIS. Oocysts of Eimeria ambystomae Saxe, 1955, Eimeria microcapi sp. n., and Eimeria urodela sp. n. are described from the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum , collected in Colorado and New Mexico. The oocysts of E. ambystomae are ellipsoid, 29.8 × 17.3 (24–38 × 15–25) μm, and the sporocysts lanceolate, 22.6 × 5.4 (16–27 × 5–7) μm. Oocyst and sporocyst residua are present, but not a polar granule and a micropyle. The oocysts and sporocysts of E. microcapi are ellipsoid, measuring respectively 38.1 × 25.3 (35-41 × 23-26) μm and 18.1 × 7.4 (16-19 × 6–8) μm. Oocyst and sporocyst residua, a micropyle (mean 3 μm), and a distinct micropyle cap (2 μm high) are present, but not a polar granule. The oocysts of E. urodela are spheroid, 22.2 (14-26) μm, and the sporocysts lanceolate, 16.3 × 5.8 (12-19 × 4-7) μm. Oocyst and sporocyst residua are present, but a polar granule and a micropyle are absent.     

Taxonomic review and phylogenetic inference elucidate the evolutionary history of Mesozoic Procercopidae,with new data from the Cretaceous Jehol Biota of NE China (Hemiptera,Cicadomorpha)

The Mesozoic family Procercopidae is widely treated as the ancient group of Cercopoidea and a transitional unit to recent lineages, but its evolution and diversity are vague due to fragmentary fossil record and confusing taxonomic history. Herein, an extensive taxonomic review of Procercopidae is presented and some new fossils are reported from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of NE China. As a result, Chengdecercopis Hong, 1983 is transferred from Procercopidae to Sinoalidae; Procercopis longipennis Becker-Migdisova, 1962 and P shawanensis Zhang, Wang and Zhang, 2003 are transferred to Procercopina Martynov, 1937, resulting in Procercopina longipennis (Becker-Migdisova, 1962), comb. n. and P shawanensis (Zhang, Wang and Zhang, 2003), comb. n.; Luanpingia senjituensis Hong, 1984 is transferred to Stellularis Chen, Yao and Ren, 2015, leading to Stellulari senjituensis (Hong, 1984), comb. n.; Anthoscytina macula Hu, Yao and Ren, 2014 is transferred to Sinocercopis Hong, 1982, and Sunoscytinopteris (Scytinopteridae) and Cathaycixius (Cixiidae) are treated as junior homonym names of Sinocercopis, leading to Sinocercopis macula (Hu, Yao and Ren, 2014), comb. n., S lushangfenensis (Hong, 1984), comb. n., S pustulosis (Ren, 1995), comb. n., and S trinervis (Ren, 1995), comb. n. Additionally, two new species are erected: Stellularis bineuris Chen and Wang, sp. n. and S minutus Chen and Wang, sp. n. Our cladistic analysis based on wing (tegmen and hind wing) characteristics recovers the high-level relationships within Cercopoidea: Sinoalidae + (Procercopidae + (Cercopionidae + modern cercopoids)). Within the family Procercopidae, the cladistic analysis reveals that the Middle to Late Jurassic Titanocercopis and Jurocercopis and the Cretaceous Cretocercopis occupy the basal position, and a gradual change in wing venation can be recognized from the Early Jurassic Procercopis and Procercopina to the Jurassic Anthoscytina, and then to the Cretaceous Stellularis and Sinocercopis. The two Cretaceous genera, sharing wing traits with extant cercopoids, likely represent transitional forms between Procercopidae and recent Cercopoidea; however, they are very similar to their Jurassic relatives in body structures, suggesting it is applicable to attribute them to Procercopidae. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that the extinction of Procercopidae and the origin and early diversification of modern Cercopoidea approximately coincided with the rise and explosive radiation of angiosperms in the late Early Cretaceous and onwards.     

Eimeria cicaki sp. n. and Isospora thavari sp. n. from the House Lizard Gehyra mutilata Boulenger in Malaysia*

SYNOPSIS. 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 × 21.0 μm. Polar granules are present. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. Ellipsoid sporocysts average 12.2 × 9.0 μm. 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 × 22.8 μm. The polar granule is present; micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. Ellipsoid sporocysts average 12.8 × 9.4 μm. Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present. There are endogenous stages in epithelial cells of the small intestine.     

Eimeria taterae sp. n. and other Intestinal Parasites from the Antelope Rat, Tatera indica in Baghdad District

SYNOPSIS. Of 8 fecal specimens from the antelope rat, Tatera indica Hardwicke examined, 4 were found positive for intestinal parasites. Among these was Eimeria taterae sp. n., sporulated oocysts of which are described, their characteristics serving for the diagnosis of this species. Entamoeba coli cysts, as well as ova of Hymenolepis sp. and Trichuris sp., were also found.