title: Two new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from leaf-tailed geckos, Uroplatus spp. (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Madagascar, including a new host of Eimeria brygooi Upton & Barnard, 1987.
abstract: During May and June 2015, four common leaf-tailed geckos, Uroplatus fimbriatus (Schneider), five satanic leaf-tailed geckos, Uroplatus phantasticus (Boulenger), and four mossy leaf-tailed geckos, Uroplatus sikorae Boettger originally collected from Madagascar and housed at the Dallas Zoo, USA, had their faeces examined for coccidian parasites. Eight (62%) geckos were found to be passing oöcysts, including a new eimerian, a new isosporan and a previously described eimerian. Three of four (75%) U. fimbratus (type-host) and one of five (20%) U. phantasticus were infected with Eimeria schneideri n. sp.; oöcysts were subspheroidal to ellipsoidal with a bi-layered wall and measured (mean length × width, L × W) 15.1 × 13.5 µm, with a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1. A micropyle and oöcyst residuum were absent but one to many polar granules were present. Sporocysts were ovoidal, 6.9 × 5.3 µm, L/W = 1.3. Stieda, sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies were absent. A globular sporocyst residuum was present as dispersed granules. Four of five (80%) U. phantasticus harboured Isospora boulengeri n. sp.; oöcysts were subpheroidal to ellipsoidal with a bi-layered wall and measured 17.3 × 16.0 µm, L/W = 1.1. A micropyle and oöcyst residuum were absent but a polar granule was present. Sporocysts were ellipsoidal, 9.5 × 6.9 µm, L/W = 1.4. Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies were present but a para-Stieda body was absent. A globular sporocyst residuum was present with dispersed granules. In addition, one of four (25%) U. sikorae was infected with an eimerian indistinguishable from Eimeria brygooi Upton & Barnard, 1987, previously reported from Madagascar day gecko, Phelsuma grandis Gray and golddust day gecko, Phelsuma laticauda (Boettger) from Madagascar. These are the first coccidians described from Uroplatus spp.
authors.affiliation: Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, OK, 74745, USA. cmcallister@se.edu.
authors.forename: Chris T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming at Casper, Casper, WY, 82601, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scott Seville
authors.affiliation: Herpetology Department, Dallas Zoo, 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75203, USA.
authors.forename: Ruston
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hartdegen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology; D004539:Eimeria / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology; D008270:Madagascar; D013045:Species Specificity; D013781:Texas