Eimeria columbapalumbi, Jamriška & Modrý, 2012

Jamriška, Ján & Modrý, David, 2012, A New Species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 (Aves: Columbidae), Acta Protozoologica 51 (4), pp. 329-333 : 330-331

Eimeria columbapalumbi n. sp.

Description of oocyst

Sporulated oocysts are ellipsoidal, 21.3 × 16.9 (17– 24 × 15–18, N = 33); shape index (length/width ratio), 1.26 (1–1.44). Oocyst wall bi-layered, 0.9 (0.6–1.5, N = 33). Outer layer is thicker, 1.0, light brownish in color, slightly pitted externally; inner layer is 0.5. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. Two irregularly-shaped polar granules were present, each about 1.5 × 2.0. Sporocysts are elongate ovoidal, slightly asymmetrical, cramped on one pole, 13.5 × 6.5 (11–16 × 6–7, N = 33), with smooth, single layered, colorless wall; shape index 1.09 (1.69–2.17). Stieda body is pres-

Fig. 3. Microphotograph of mucosa of the jejunum showing macrogametocyte (white arrow).

ent, 1.3 high × 1.5 wide (1.0–1.2 × 1.5 –1.6, N = 15) ( Fig. 2 ), substiedal body is absent. Sporocyst residuum is scattered, composed of hundreds of small granules ( Fig. 1 ). Sporozoites are elongate, slightly curved, each with two refractile bodies. Anterior refractile body is spherical 3.0 × 2.4 (3.0 × 2.4–2.5, N = 10); the posterior one is elongate 5.4 × 2.5 (5.3–5.5 × 2.3–2.5, N = 10) ( Fig. 4 ). The nuclei of the sporozoites were not well discernible.

Type-host: Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 ( Aves: Columbidae ), Common Wood Pigeon.

Type-locality: Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

Site of infection: Endogenous stages observed in jejunum; oocysts were recovered from feces.

Sporulation: Exogenous, oocysts became sporulated within 6 days at ~ 23°C.

Type-specimens: Digital photomicrographs are deposited at the type parasitological collection of the Institute of Parasitology , Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, No.: IP ProtColl P 20 .

Etymology: The specific epithet columbapalumbi is derived from the host binominal name Columba palumbus . Latin word palumbus (= wood pigeon) is of the second declension and is of masculine gender, having a genitive ending -i.

Figures

Figs 1–2. Nomarski interference micrograph of oocyst of Eimeria columbapalumbi n. sp. isolated from the feces; note Stieda body (Fig. 1, black arrow) and elongated sporozoite anterior refractile body (Fig. 2, asterisk).

Fig. 4. Composite line drawing of sporulated oocyst of Eimeria columbapalumbi n. sp.