Abstract
Two new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 from flap-necked chameleons Chamaeleo dilepis Leach are described from the faeces of specimens collected in the Republic of Namibia. Oöcysts of Isospora freedi n. sp. from one of four (25%) C. dilepis collected in the East Caprivi District are spherical to subspherical, with a smooth, colourless, bilayered wall, measure 23.7 × 21.2 μm and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1. The micropyle and the oöcyst residuum are absent but a polar granule is sometimes present. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal and 13.9 × 10.3 μm in size with prominent Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies; and the sporocyst residuum is composed of a compact mass of large globules. The sporozoites contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies with a nucleus between them. Oöcysts of Isopora mandelai n. sp. from three of seven (43%) C. dilepis collected in the Outjo District are ellipsoidal to cylindroidal, with a smooth, colourless, bilayered wall, measure 36.9 × 31.0 μm and have an L/W ratio of 1.2. The micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 15.3 × 11.1 μm in size and contain Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies; and the non-membranous sporocyst residuum is composed of granules of various sizes. The sporozoites contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies with a nucleus between them. These two new taxa represent the third and fourth coccidian species reported from C. dilepis.
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Acknowledgements
I especially want to thank and honour my late dear friend and colleague, Dr Steve J. Upton (1953–2010), without whose unselfish assistance in processing these specimens this study would not have been possible. I am grateful to Hartwig-Burger-Dell’Mour, Joe Furman and Keith Neitman for field assistance, and the Namibia Department of Agriculture and Nature Conservation in Windhoek for collecting and export permits issued to P. S. Freed. Further appreciation is extended to Patricia A. Pilitt (USNPC) for expert curatorial assistance. I also thank Zachary P. Roehrs (Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA) for technical assistance with the figures.
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McAllister, C.T. Two new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the flap-necked chameleon Chamaeleo dilepis (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae) in the Republic of Namibia. Syst Parasitol 83, 15–20 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-012-9361-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-012-9361-z