Abstract
Compared to other commonly examined passerine birds for coccidian (Apicomplexa) parasites, little is available on the coccidia of birds of the family Hirundinidae, including barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). Feces was collected in May 2022 from two nesting H. rustica in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, USA; the samples contained oöcysts representing a new species of Isospora. Oöcysts of Isospora zimmermani n. sp. are subspheroidal to ovoidal with a smooth bi-layered wall, measure (L × W) 22.8 × 20.8 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1; a micropyle and oöcyst residuum were absent but polar granule(s) are present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal to ovoidal and measure 15.2 × 9.6 µm, L/W 1.6; a knob-like Stieda body and a rounded sub-Stieda body are present. The sporocyst residuum is composed of compact spheroid with a dense, irregular mass of finer granules lying between and dispersed among the sporozoites. The new species represents only the second isosporan reported from H. rustica but the first from the USA, and fourth species documented from the avian family Hirundinidae. This article was registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) as urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F1E71C3-56E8-4EA7-A9B0-1E585FAA9DE0.
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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Drs. Scott L. Gardner and Gabor R. Racz (HWML) for expert curatorial assistance.
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This study was designed by both authors. Field collections were performed by CTM. Laboratory procedures for recovery of oöcysts were performed by CTM. Laboratory procedures for measurements, photomicrographs, and isolation of oöcysts were performed by JAH. CTM drew the coccidian oöcyst. The manuscript was written by both authors and subsequently revised by both authors. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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All applicable institutional, national and international guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation provided a Scientific Collecting Permit to CTM.
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McAllister, C.T., Hnida, J.A. A new isosporan (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (Aves: Passeriformes: Hirundinidae: Hirundininae), in Oklahoma, USA. Syst Parasitol 100, 15–21 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-022-10066-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-022-10066-0