title: Eimeria gasperettii n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the horned viper, Cerates cerastes gasperettii in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Eimeria gasperettii n. sp. is described from the gall bladder of the horned viper, Cerastes cerastes gasperettii from Al-Thumamah, central region of Saudi Arabia. Sporulated oocysts are ellipsoid in shape, measuring 38.8 x 25.5 (29-41 x 17.2-28.4) microm with smooth brownish-yellow bilayered wall, 1.7(1.5-2.0) microm.thick. Micropyle polar granule and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid reaching 13.8 x 9.6 (11-14.5 x 8.0-10.3) microm. Sporocyst residuum is present. The sporocyst lacks a Stieda body. Sporozoites are crescent-shaped blunt at one end and slightly tapered at the other. Eimeria species from Viperidae are compared.
authors.affiliation: Departement of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, PO Box 26213, Riyadh, 11486, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohamed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alyousif
authors.forename: Abdullah D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Al-Anazi
authors.forename: Yaser R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Al-Shawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000469:parasitology; D033661:Oocysts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D017819:Viperidae / Q000469:parasitology*