Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of
Date of this Version
2009
Abstract
In 1999, a single specimen of the Tolai hare, Lepus tolai Pallas, 1778, from the Gobi region of Mongolia was examined and had a new species of eimerian parasite in its intestinal contents. Eimeria gobiensis n. sp. is relatively large; it possesses 2 oocyst walls and a very well-developed oocyst residuum. Oocysts of the new species possess a thick wall with a double layer, a massive 3-layered micropyle, and are ellipsoidal, with average length and width of the oocyst of 38.6 × 24.2 μm, respectively. The range in measurements of these oocysts extends from 27.3 to 49.2 μm in length by 18.8 to 32.5 μm in width, with a length/width ratio = 1.6; the oocyst residuumis is composed of a sub-spheroidal mass of small granules with an average size of 12.0 × 11.0 μm; sporocysts are ovoidal with an average length 3 width of 15.0 × 7.7 μm, respectively, and a range in length extending from 9.2 to 21.0 mm by 5.0 to 12.0 μm in width. In addition, each sporozoite has a large, medial, refractile body with an average size of 6.0 × 5.0 μm.
Comments
Published in the Journal of Parasitology (2009) 95(6): 1,451-1,454. Copyright 2009, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.