Eimeria species from Cryptotis shrews (Insectivora: Soricidae) with description of a new species.
Fresh fecal samples from 12 shrews, 10 Cryptotis goodwini Jackson, 1933, and 2 Cryptotis merriami Thomas, 1898, were collected between December 1994 and May 1998; 11 (92%) were positive for eimeriid coccidia, including 8 of 8 C. goodwini and 2 of 2 C. merriami from Honduras and 1 of 2 C. goodwini from Guatemala. Two Eimeria species were found: 1 is consistent with the description of Eimeria whitakeri Upton and McAllister, 1991, and 1 is described in this study as new. Sporulated oocysts of the new species are subspheroidal, 16.8 x 15.7 (14-20 x 15-19) microm, with a length-width (L/W) ratio of 1.1 (1.0-1.2); they lack a micropyle and oocyst residuum, but 1-2 polar granules are always present. Sporocysts are elongate and ovoidal, 8.4 x 6.0 (6-10 x 4.5-7.5) microm, with a L/W ratio of 1.4 (1.2-1.7) and have a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. This is the 49th Eimeria species described from all Insectivora but only the third from Cryptotis species.
Duszynski
Donald W
DW
Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA. eimeria@unm.edu
Eckerlin
Ralph P
RP
McCarthy
Timothy J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006166:Guatemala / Q000453:epidemiology; D006721:Honduras / Q000453:epidemiology; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012788:Shrews / Q000469:parasitology*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology