Oocysts of Isospora ernsti n. sp. and Isospora blagburni n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the black-capped bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos

Abstract

Oocysts of Isospora ernsti n. sp. and Isospora blagburni n. sp. are described from the black-capped bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos from Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois. The bird came from southwestern Africa seven years earlier. I. ernsti oocysts are ellipsoidal to bluntly ovoid, 28−38 × 23−31μm (mean 34 × 28 μm) and have a single-layered oocyst wall. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granules are absent. Sporocysts are elongate ovoid, 24−30 × 11−16 μm (mean 27×13 μm). Stieda and substiedal bodies and sporocyst residuum are present. I. blagburni oocysts are spherical to subspherical. 21−28 × 19−26 μm (mean 25 × 23 μm) and have a single oocyst wall. Sporocysts are ovoid and 17−23 × 10−13 μm (mean 20 × 12 μm). Stieda and substiedal bodies and sporocyst residuum are present.