title: A new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa) from Cordylus cataphractus (Sauria: Cordylidae), from South Africa.
abstract: Three armadillo girdled lizards, Cordylus cataphractus Boie, 1828, housed at the Dallas Zoo in Texas, USA but originally imported from Namaqualand, South Africa, were found to be passing oocysts of a previously undescribed species of eimerian. Oocysts of Eimeria murphyi sp. n. are cylindroidal, 44.1 x 21.3 (41.5-46.5 x 20.5-24) microns, with a shape index (length/width) of 2.07 (1.75-2.21). A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. Sporocysts ellipsoidal, 13.5 x 10.2 (13-14.5 x 9.5-11) microns (N = 20), with a shape index of 1.32 (1.23-1.46). Each sporozoite possesses a single, posterior refractile body. This represents the first report of coccidia infecting a member of the saurian family Cordylidae.
authors: Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Upton
authors: C T
authors: CT
authors: McAllister
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Garrett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000145:classification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D013019:South Africa