title: New species of Isospora from the blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) from Costa Rica.
abstract: Two (33.3%) of 6 blue-crowned motmots (Momotus momota) sampled from Costa Rica were positive for a new species of Isospora. Oocysts of Isospora momotana n. sp. have a double, thick, yellow to orange, 2.3 microm +/- 0.5 microm (2-3 microm) wall, contain 1 to 3 globular polar granules (1-4 microm), are ovoid with heavy pitting on the outer surface, and measure 29.4 +/- 2.3 x 27.5 +/- 2.3 (25-33 x 23-31) with an average length:width ratio of 1.1 (1.0-1.35). Sporocysts are ovoid, contain a residuum composed of large, equal-sized granules, and measure 19.4 +/- 1.3 x 12.2 +/- 1.1 (16-22 x 10-14) with an average length:width ratio of 1.6 (1.2-1.91). A small rounded stieda body, continuous with the sporocyst wall, and a prominent triangular substieda body are present. A second Isospora species was observed in 1 bird, but because only a few oocysts were present, a full description is not provided. This is the first report of coccidia from a motmot (Momotidae) and only the third Ispospora species described from the Coraciiformes.
authors.affiliation: Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. myabsley@uga.edu
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yabsley
authors.forename: Shamus P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Keeler
authors.forename: Samantha E J
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Sabrina N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: McGraw
authors.forename: Sonia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D001717:Birds; D003364:Costa Rica / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D007549:Isospora / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021865:Isosporiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D033661:Oocysts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015995:Prevalence