A NEW EIMERIA SP. FROM THE PLUMBEOUS CENTRAL AMERICAN CAECILIAN, DERMOPHIS MEXICANUS (AMPHIBIA: GYMNOPHIONA) FROM VOLCÁN TAJUMULCO, DEPARTMENT OF SAN MARCOS, GUATEMALA

摘要

Fresh fecal samples from 5 caecilians (Dermophis mexicanus) were collected and examined for coccidia in the summer of 1998. The caecilians were collected in the Department of San Marcos, Guatemala. Two of the 5 (40%) specimens of caecilians contained an Eimeria species that is described here as new. This represents the first coccidia described from a gymnophionian host. Sporulated oocysts are spheroidal to subspheroidal, 19.5 × 17.7 (16–23 × 15–21) µm, micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, and 3 (or more) polar granules are always present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 11.0 × 7.2 (10–12 × 6–9); a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present.