Eimeria montanaensis n. sp. and E. ernesti n. sp. (Protozoa,Eimeriidae) from the Rocky Mountain Goat Oreamnos americanus*

SYNOPSIS. Oocysts of Eimeria oreamni, E. montanaensis n. sp. and E. ernsti n. sp. were present in a fecal sample collected from a male Rocky Mountain goat Oreamnos americanus in Ravalli County, Montana. Oocysts of E. oreamni were nearly identical to those originally described from this host. Oocysts of E. montanaensis were 15-23 by 13-19 μ (mean 18.9 by 15.2 μ), with sporocysts 8-12 by 4–7 μ(mean 9.9 by 5.2 μ). Oocysts of E. ernsti were 28-37 by 19-26 μ (mean 32.9 by 23.0 μ), with sporocysts 14-20 by 6-9 μ (mean 16.7 by 7.3 μ). A distinct micropyle and micropylar cap were present in E. ernsti.     

Eimeria lophortygis n. sp. and E. okanaganensis n. sp. (Sporozoa: Eimeriidae) from California Quail Lophortyx californicus in British Columbia*

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria lophortygis n. sp. and E. okanaganensis n. sp. are described from California quail Lophortyx californicus in British Columbia. Oocysts of E. lophortygis are subspherical to ovoid, 19–26 by 18–20.5 μ (mean, 22.5 by 18.7 μ); sporocysts ovoid, 13–14 by 6–8 μ (mean, 13.7 by 7.5 μ). Prepatent period 72 hours. Oocysts of E. okanaganensis are ovoid to ellipsoidal, 22.5-30 by 17-21 μ (mean, 26.3 by 19.8 μ); sporocysts ellipsoidal, 13-18 by 6-8 μ (mean, 14.0 by 6.5 μ). Prepatent period 104 hours. Cross-transmission attempts with Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix and Leghorn chicks were unsuccessful.     

The Oocysts of Eimeria vermiformis sp. n. and E. papillata sp. n. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from the Mouse Mus musclus

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria vermiformis sp. n. and E. papillata sp. n. are described from the mouse Mus musculus. The sporulated oocysts of E. vermiformis are 18–26 by 15–21 μ (mean 23.1 by 18.4 μ); its sporocysts are 11–14 by 6–10 μ (mean 12.8 by 7.9 p). The sporulated oocysts of E. papillata are 18–26 by 16–24 μ (mean 22.4 by 19.2 μ); its sporocysts are 10–13 by 6–9 μ (mean 11.2 by 8.0 μ). A substiedal body is present in E. papillata sporocysts. Patent infections were produced in white laboratory mice with both species. Fourteen species of Eimeria have now been described from the genus Mus.     

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).     

Four New Species of Eimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from the Pika Ochotona princeps from Alberta and O. pallasi from Kazakhstan1

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria worleyi n. sp. and Eimeria barretti n. sp. from the pika Ochotona princeps from Alberta and Eimeria pallasi n. sp. and Eimeria shubini n. sp. from the pika Ochotona pallasi from Central Kazakhstan are described. Oocysts of E. worleyi were 12–16 by 10–15 μ (mean 13.5 by 12.5 μ) and spherical to subspherical. E. barretti oocysts were ellipsoidal to slightly ovoid and 27–36 by 21–27 μ (mean 32.9 by 23.8 μ). Oocysts of E. pallasi were ellipsoidal or ovoid and 19–34 by 17–26 μ (mean 26.3 by 21.3 μ). E. shubini oocysts were spherical and 22 μ in diameter. E. kriygsmanni Yakimoff and Gousseff, 1938 of Svanbaev (1958) in O. pallasi, [non] E. kriigsmanni Yakimoff and Gousseff, 1938 in Mus musculus, is a synonym of E. pallasi. E. musculi Yakimoff and Gousseff, 1938 of Svanbaev (1958) in O. pallasi, [non] E. musculi Yakimoff and Gousseff, 1938 in Mus musculus, is a synonym of E. shubini.     

Eimeria kinsellai sp. n. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in a Marsh Rice Rat Oryzomys palustris from Florida*

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria kinsellai sp. n. is described from the marsh rice rat Oryzomys palustris from Florida. Its ellipsoidal oocysts were 23–31 by 15–19 μ (mean 26.7 by 16.9 μ). One to four polar granules were present but an oocyst residuum was absent. The sporocysts were 12–15 by 7–9 μ (mean 13.9 by 8.1 μ), and sporocyst residua were present.     

Eimeria bateri Bhatia,Pandey and Pande, 1965 from the Hungarian Quail Coturnix c. coturnix in the United States and Its Attempted Transmission to the Chicken**

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria bateri Bhatia, Pandey, Pande, 1965 is described from the Hungarian quail Coturnix c. coturnix for the first time in the U.S. Its oocysts are either ellipsoidal or ovoid, 14–28 by 12–19 μ with a mean of 20.5 by 15.3 μ. Its sporocysts are elongate ovoid, with a Stieda body, 8–12 by 6–9 μ with a mean of 10.3 by 7.5 μ. Two coccidia-free chicks 8 days old were inoculated with 50,000 oocysts each of E. bateri, but patent infections did not occur. This coccidium is therefore presumably host-specific.     

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).     

Observations on the Life Cycle of Eimeria bilamellata Henry, 1932 in the Uinta Ground Squirrel Spermophilus armatus*

SYNOPSIS. Oocysts of Eimeria bilamellata were found in Spermophilus armatus, Utah and Wyoming; S. beecheyi, California; and S variegatus, Utah. Oocysts were not found in S. lateralis, S. richardsoni, S. columbianus, S. tridecemlineatus, or the white-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys leucurus. Experimental infections were established in S. armatus, S. variegatus, and S. lateralis, but not in S. richardsoni, least chipmunks Eutamius minimus, laboratory rats Rattus norvegicus, or Mongolian gerbils Meriones unguiculatus. After one experimental infection S. armatus and S. variegatus were immune to further infections. Spermophilus lateralis could be infected 3 or 4 times before the animals were immune. However, individuals of S. armatus in a natural population had more than one infection with E. bilamellata; probably infections must be of a certain level before immunity develops. When S. armatus were inoculated with about 100,000 oocysts, the animals usually died on the 7th day after incoculation. Oocysts were 33-37 by 25-31 μ (mean 34.5 by 28.2 μ). The oocyst wall was brown and composed of 2 layers. A distinct micropyle was present. Sporocysts were 18-23 by 9-12 μ (mean 19.9 by 10.3 μ). In experimental infections, the prepatent period was 10 days and the patent period 5–21 (mean 9) days. Schizonts were 1st seen 7 days after inoculation. They were located above the host cell nuclei of epithelial cells at the tips of the villi of the jejunum and ileum. One or more earlier generations of schizonts were thought to occur, but these were not observed. Gametogony took place in epithelial cells of the jejunum and ileum. Shortly after the merozoites entered the cells, the cells became enlarged and were displaced into the lamina propria. The microgametocytes were considerably larger than the macrogametes and contained a central residual body. Macrogametes had a peripheral eosinophilic layer as well as cytoplasmic granules; both apparently participated in formation of the oocyst wall.     

Isospora Species of the Cat and Attempted Transmission of I. felis Wenyon, 1923 from the Cat to the Dog*

SYNOPSIS Fecal samples from 130 domestic cats from Illinois were examined for coccidia. Three species of Isospora were found: (1) I. felis Wenyon, 1923, with oocysts 38-51 by 27-39 μ with a mean of 41.6 by 30.5 μ and sporocysts 20-26 by 17-22 μ with a mean of 22.6 by 18.4 μ; it was found in 13% of the cats; (2) I. rivolta (Grassi, 1879) Wenyon, 1923, with oocysts 21-28 by 18-23 μ with a mean of 25.0 by 21.1 μ, and sporocysts 14-16 by 10-13 μ with a mean of 15.2 by 11.6 μ; it was found in 3% of the cats; and (3) I. bigemina (Stiles, 1891) Lühe, 1906, with oocysts 12-15 by 10-13 μ with a mean of 13.2 by 11.8 μ. and sporocysts 8-10 by 6-8 μ with a mean of 8.8 by 6.5 μ it was found in 1.5% of the cats. Four coccidia-free puppies 1.5 months old were inoculated with 100,000 oocysts each of I. felis from the cat, but patent infections did not occur. Partial development of I. felis was not seen in tissue sections of the small intestine of a 5th pup killed 96 hours after inoculation with 150,000 I. felis oocysts. This coccidium is therefore presumably host-specific.     

Rates of change in width and length-width ratios of the diaphyses of the hand

The minimum width and the length of each diaphysis of the hand were measured on serial radiographs of 20 boys and 20 girls. These radiographs were taken close to each birthday at ages from 3 to 13 years inclusive. The corresponding length-width ratios were calculated from these parameters. The b values (indicating rates of change) were calculated for width and length-width ratio in each diaphysis in each child. Communality indices (mean r between b values) were calculated for individual diaphyses. These communality indices reflect the associations between each diaphysis and all the other diaphyses of the hand in their rates of change in width and length-width ratio. The sex differences were not statistically significant for mean b values but they were significant for the communality indices for width (boys higher) and length-width ratio (girls higher). Statistically significant neighborhood effects were present in communality indices for widths within rays for the girls and for ratios within rays for both sexes. There were statistically significant marginal effects in communality indices for widths in the girls within rows and for length-width ratios in the boys within rays.     

Four new species of the genus Cheimacheramus Barnard, 1934 from Madagascar (Trichoptera: Sericostomatidae)

The genus Cheimacheramus Barnard, 1934 Barnard, K.H. (1934), ‘South African Caddis-Flies (Trichoptera)’, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 21, 291–394.[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] included only three species, one from South Africa and two from Madagascar. Four new Malagasy species are described herein: Cheimacheramus akandi sp. n., Cheimacheramus barnardi sp. n. and Cheimacheramus anjojorobensis sp. n. from the Anjojorobe Forest, Cheimacheramus madecassus sp. n. from the Lakato Forest and the Marojejy National Park. Diagnostic characters of the genus and species are discussed and illustrated. In Madagascar, these discoveries confirm the localization of the genus within the eastern evergreen forests.

http://zoobank.org/urn:zoobank.org:pub:79472077-04E9-42FA-B55B-9EE291556E60     

The effect of Hurricane Allen on the Bellairs fringing reef,Barbados

On August 4, 1980 Hurricane Allen damaged the northern fringing reef located just offshore from the Bellairs Research Institute of McGill University on the west coast of Barbados. During the summer and one winter month of 1981 a resurvey of the reef was done and the results were compared with a similar survey made in 1974. On a reefal scale the changes in the proportion of substrates before and after Hurricane Allen were statistically significant for all substrates and species with the exception of Millepora spp. Among the corals, Porites porites has been most affected by the catastrophe: its coverage was reduced by 96%. The other corals (Siderastrea sidera, Porites astreoides, Montastrea annularis, and Agaricia agaricites) were reduced by 75 to 25%. Onshore transport is suggested by the high abundance of Acropora cervicornis (20%) and Madracis mirabilis (30%) in the rubble on the fringing reef (the former only grows seaward of the reef). Offshore transport is suggested by the relatively poor representation of Porites porites (32%) in the rubble. Shannon-Weaver diversity indices of the corals dropped from 1.61 to 1.26. The changes in diversity are best explained by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.     

Migratory life cycle of Ephemerella maculata (Traver, 1934) (Ephemerellidae)

In this paper, I describe for the first time the migratory life cycle of an univoltine mayfly, Ephemerella maculata (Traver, 1934 Traver, J.R. (1934), ‘New North American Species of Mayflies (Ephemerida)’, Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society, 50(1/2), 189–254. [Google Scholar]), between mainstems and tributaries of stream networks in California. Ephemerella maculata nymphs grow in sunny open mainstems and then emerge. Female adults fly into adjacent shaded tributaries, oviposit eggs, and die. The eggs diapause over summer and hatch in the fall in tributaries; then small nymphs drift down back to the mainstem before the subsequent spring growing season. Isotope analyses validate the adult migrations from mainstem to tributaries.

?Field rearing experiments show that the abundant algae in sunny mainstems are important food for the growth of E. maculata nymphs. However, eggs survive and hatch equally well in mainstem and tributaries, therefore, the fitness advantage of their migration to tributaries remains unclear.     

Phylogenetic relationships among rodent Eimeria species determined by plastid ORF470 and nuclear 18S rDNA sequences

Phylogenetic analyses for 10 rodent Eimeria species from different host genera based on plastid ORF470 and nuclear 18S rDNA sequences were done to infer the evolutionary relationships of these rodent Eimeria species and their correlation to morphology and host specificity. The phylogenies based on both data sets clearly grouped the 10 rodent Eimeria species into two major lineages, which reflect more their morphological differences than host specificity. Species in lineage A have spheroidal to subspheroidal sporulated oocysts, are similar in size (18-29 x 17-23; xbar = 22 x 20 microm), have an oocyst residuum and one-two polar granules; these include Eimeria albigulae (Neotoma), Eimeria arizonensis (Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys), Eimeria onychomysis (Onychomys) and Eimeria reedi (Perognathus). Species in lineage B, including Eimeria falciformis (Mus), Eimeria langebarteli (Reithrodontomys), Eimeria nieschulzi (Rattus), Eimeria papillata (Mus), Eimeria separata (Rattus) and Eimeria sevilletensis (Onychomys) have different shapes (ovoid, ellipsoid, elongated ellipsoid, etc.), differ greatly in size (10-27 x 9-24; xbar = 19 x 16 microm) and all lack an oocyst residuum. Thus, The oocyst residuum was the most determinant feature that differentiated the two lineages. The accession numbers of ORF470 of E. albigulae, E. arizonensis, E. falciformis, E. nieschulzi, E. onychomysis, E. papillata, E. reedi, E. separata, E. sevilletensis, E. langebarteli are AF311630-AF311639 and 18S rDNA of E. langebarteli, E. papillata, E. reedi, E. separata, E. sevilletensis are AF311640-AF311644.     

Garland Allen,Thomas Hunt Morgan,and Development

Garland E. Allen’s 1978 biography of the Nobel Prize winning biologist Thomas Hunt Morgan provides an excellent study of the man and his science. Allen presents Morgan as an opportunistic scientist who follows where his observations take him, leading him to his foundational work in Drosophila genetics. The book was rightfully hailed as an important achievement and it introduced generations of readers to Morgan. Yet, in hindsight, Allen’s book largely misses an equally important part of Morgan’s work – his study of development and regeneration. It is worth returning to this part of Morgan, exploring what Morgan contributed and also why he has been seen by contemporaries and historians such as Allen as having set aside some of the most important developmental problems. A closer look shows how Morgan’s view of cells and development that was different from that of his most noted contemporaries led to interpretation of his important contributions in favor of genetics. This essay is part of a special issue, revisiting Garland Allen's views on the history of life sciences in the twentieth century.     

Identification of a novel species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from the woylie,Bettongia penicillata Gray (Diprotodontia: Potoroidae) and the genetic characterisation of three Eimeria spp. from other potoroid marsupials

Faecal samples (n = 1,093) collected from the woylie Bettongia penicillata Gray, in south-western Australia were examined for the presence of coccidian parasites. Eimeria sp. oöcysts were detected in 15.2% of samples. Faecal samples obtained from the eastern bettong Bettongia gaimardi (Desmarest) (n = 4) and long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus (Kerr) (n = 12) in Tasmania, were also screened for the presence of Eimeria spp. (prevalence 50% and 41.7%, respectively). Morphological and genetic comparison with other known species of Eimeria indicates that the material identified in woylies is novel. This study aimed to (i) morphologically describe and genetically characterise Eimeria woyliei n. sp. found in woylies; and (ii) genetically characterise Eimeria gaimardi Barker, O’Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, Eimeria potoroi Barker, O’Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, and Eimeria mundayi Barker, O’Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, from other potoroid marsupials. Molecular phylogenetic analyses conducted at the 18S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) loci revealed that E. woyliei n. sp. was most closely related to Eimeria setonicis Barker, O’Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, at the 18S rDNA locus, and Eimeria trichosuri O’Callaghan & O’Donoghue, 2001, at the cox1 locus. Eimeria woyliei n. sp. is the sixth species of Eimeria to be formally described from potoroid marsupials.

     

Eimeria utahensis sp. n. from Kangaroo Rats (Dipodomys ordii and D. microps) in Northwestern Utah*

SYNOPSIS. The sporulated oocysts of Eimeria utahensis sp. n. from 2 species of kangaroo rats in northwestern Utah are described. The oocysts averaged 42.0 by 39.3 μ, and had rough, yellow-brown walls, about 3 μ thick. In each sporocyst, a substiedal body was seen beneath the Stieda body; this is the 1st report of such a structure in any Eimeria species. E. utahensis was found in 3.6% of 196 Dipodomys ordii and 19.4% of 36 D. microps. The incidence was higher in young adult than in adult Ord kangaroo rats and lowest in juveniles; in D. microps only adults were infected. The mean prepatent period was 9.8 days. The patent period could not be determined because of apparent reinfections; there was no evidence of immunity.     

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%.     

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Sciurid Rodents (Eutamias,Sciurus, Tamiasciurus spp.) from the Western United States and Northern Mexico with Descriptions of Two New Species1

ABSTRACT. Since May 1979, 190 rodents in the family Sciuridae, representing three genera and nine species, have been collected in the western United States and northern Mexico and examined for coccidia; 71 (37%) had coccidian oocysts in their feces. These included 2 of 12 (17%) Eutamias canipes; 7 of 12 (58%) E. dorsalis; 18 of 50 (36%) E. merriami; 33 of 96 (34%) E. obscurus; 3 of 4 (75%) E. townsendii; 3 of 9 (33%) Sciurus aberti; 1 of 1 S. griseus; 1 of 1 Tamiasciurus hudsonicus mogollonensis; and 3 of 5 (60%) T. mearnsi. The following coccidians were identified from infected rodents: Eimeria cochisensis n. sp. and Eimeria dorsalis n. sp. from E. canipes; E. cochisensis, E. dorsalis, and E. tamiasciuri from E. dorsalis; E. dorsalis and E. tamiasciuri from E. merriami; E. cochisensis, E. dorsalis, E. tamiasciuri, and E. wisconsinensis from E. obscurus; E. cochisensis and E. dorsalis from E. townsendii; E. ontarioensis and E. tamiasciuri from S. aberti; E. tamiasciuri from S. griseus; E. tamiasciuri and E. toddi from T. h. mogollonensis; and E. tamiasciuri from T. mearnsi. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria dorsalis n. sp. were ovoid, 21.9 × 16.8 (17–24 × 14–20) μm with sporocysts ovoid, 11.5 × 6.9 (10–14 × 6–8) μm. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria cochisensis n. sp. were spheroid to subspheroid, 16.7 × 15.3 (15–18 × 14–17) μm, with sporocysts ovoid, 8.4 × 5.6 (6–11 × 4–7) μm. Fifty-five of 71 (77%) infected hosts had oocysts of only one eimerian species in their feces at the time they were examined. One eimerian, E. tamiasciuri, was found in seven of nine host species in three genera. A list is provided of all eimerians (22, including the species described here) that have been described in the literature from Eutamias, Sciurus, and Tamiasciurus spp.