Eimeria atheridis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), a new coccidium from the western bush viper Atheris chlorechis (Pel, 1851) from tropical Africa.
Coprological examination of nine bush vipers Atheris chlorechis imported from Ghana revealed the presence of a new coccidian species belonging to Eimeria Schneider, 1875. Thin walled oöcysts of Eimeria atheridis n. sp. are spherical to slightly subspherical, 22.8 (19-26) x 22.5 (19-25) microm, without micropyle, polar granule and oöcyst residuum. Sporocysts are elongately ellipsoidal, 17.1 (15-19) x 7.5 (6-8) microm, with a dome like, relatively flat Stieda body. Sporozoites possess two refractile bodies and distinct transversal striation. Based on the presence of a Stieda body the species described herein clearly belongs to the Eimeria ( sensu stricto ).
Modrý
David
D
Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Necas
Petr
P
Mazuch
Tomás
T
Kamler
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D004539:Eimeria / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005243:Feces; D005869:Ghana; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D033661:Oocysts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017819:Viperidae / Q000469:parasitology*