Eimeria albigulae (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae): New Host and Distributional Record from the Bryant's Woodrat, Neotoma bryanti (Rodentia: Cricetidae), from California, U.S.A.

摘要

Fecal samples, collected in July 2020 and April-May 2021 from 17 Bryant's woodrats, Neotoma bryanti Mer-riam, from 3 sites in San Diego, Orange, and San Bernardino counties, California, were examined for coccidial parasites. Three of 8 (38) woodrats from a single site in San Diego County were found to be passing oocysts of Eimeria albigulae Levine, Ivens, and Kruidenier, 1957. Subspheroidal oocysts measured (average length L x width W) 23.5 x 21.4 urn with an average LAV ratio of 1.1. A micropyle was absent, but an oocyst residuum as well as a single polar granule was present. Ovoidal sporocysts measured (average L x W) 10.1 x 7.5 mum with an LAV ratio average of 1.4. A nipple-like Stieda body was present, but sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies were absent. The sporocyst residuum was composed of loosely packed granules between and around the sporo-zoites. This woodrat represents the sixth host to harbor this coccidian. We document a new host as well as a geographic distribution record for E. albigulae.