Abstract
Coccidian oöcysts recovered from the feces of queen snakes, Regina septemvittata, from Arkansas, USA, were found to represent a previously unreported eimerian. Oöcysts of Eimeria septemvittata n. sp. are spherical or subspherical, 14.6×14.0 (12–16×12–15) μm, with a thin, bi-layered wall; the shape-index (length/width) is 1.04 (1.00–1.17). The micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent but a large polar granule is present. The sporocysts are ovoidal, 11.3×5.6 (9.5–13.5×5–6) μm and possess a Stieda body; the shape-index is 2.02 (1.81–2.50). Each sporozoite contains a large, centrally located refractile body and a generally smaller, posterior refractile body.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carini, A. (1933) Sur quelques Eimeria recontrees dans l'intestine de serpents non venimeux du Brésil. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée, 11, 472–475.
Carini, A. (1934) Sobre algumas Eimerias encontradas no intestino de cobras nao venenosas do Brasil. Arquivos de Biologica (São Paulo), 18, 10–12.
Chu, T. (1936) A review of the status of the reptilian nematodes of the genus Rhabdias with a description of Rhabdias fuscovenosa var. catanensis (Rizzo, 1902) new rank. Journal of Parasitology, 22, 130–139.
Conant, R. (1960) The queen snake, Natrix septemvittata, in the interior highlands of Arkansas and Missouri, with comments upon similar disjunct distributions. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 112, 25–40.
Conant, R. (1975) A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America. Second edition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 475 pp.
Johnson, T.R. (1987) The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Conservation, 368 pp.
Lainson, R. & Shaw, J.J. (1973) Coccidia of Brazilian snakes: Isospora decipiens, Eimeria micruri, E. liophi, E. leimadophi spp. n., with redescription of Caryospora braziliensis Carini, 1932 and Eimeria poecilogyri Carini, 1933. Journal of Protozoology, 20, 358–362.
Upton, S.J. & McAllister, C.T. (1988) Three new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Nerodia rhombifera (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Texas. Journal of Protozoology, 35, 511–513.
Upton, S.J. & McAllister, C.T. (1990) The Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of Serpentes, with descriptions of three new species from colubrid snakes. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 68, 855–864.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Upton, S.J., McAllister, C.T. & Trauth, S.E. Description of the oöcysts of Eimeria septemvittata n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from queen snakes, Regina septemvittata (Serpentes: Colubridae), in Arkansas. Syst Parasitol 20, 199–201 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009783
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009783