Abstract
Eimeria ammospermophili n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is described from 2 of 29 (7%) Harris’s antelope squirrels Ammospermophilus harrisii Audubon & Bachman in Arizona, USA. Sporulated oöcysts of this new species are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 24–32 × 20–25 (29.0 × 22.7) µm, with a pitted, bi-layered wall, an oöcyst residuum and, occasionally, a polar granule. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 10–12 × 7–9 (11.0 × 7.9) µm, with a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum; sporozoites are elongate with a spheroidal anterior refractile body and an ellipsoidal posterior refractile body. In addition, sporulated oöcysts of Eimeria vilasi Dorney, 1962 are described from A. harrisii. This is the first report on the coccidia of this host species.
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The research was possible because the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department kindly permitted fieldwork within Usery Mountain Regional Park.
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All applicable institutional, national and international guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. The protocol (file number 2889) was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA. Scientific Collecting License SP769543 was issued by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
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Hnida, J.A. A new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1885 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Harris’s antelope squirrel Ammospermophilus harrisii Audubon & Bachman (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Syst Parasitol 96, 111–115 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-018-9832-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-018-9832-y