title: Eimeria species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in Alaska and in Siberia, Russia.
abstract: Fecal samples from arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) collected in Alaska (n = 90) and Russia (n = 46) and from red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in Alaska (n = 35) were examined for the presence of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). Four species were recovered from arctic ground squirrels, including Eimeria callospermophili (prevalence = 18%), Eimeria cynomysis (23.5%), Eimeria lateralis (19%), and Eimeria morainensis (77%). A single species, Eimeria tamiasciuri (91%), was recovered from red squirrels. Eimerians recovered from arctic ground squirrels represent new host records, and the single species from red squirrels is a new geographic record. Alaskan arctic ground squirrel prevalence was higher for E. callospermophili (Alaska = 22% vs. Russia = 9%), E. cynomysis (34% vs. 2%), and E. lateralis (27% vs. 4%), but not E. morainensis (78% vs. 76%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming/Casper College Center, Casper, Wyoming 82601, USA. sseville@uwyo.edu
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Seville
authors.forename: Clint E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Donald W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Duszynski
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D012800:Siberia / Q000453:epidemiology