Coccidia (Apicomplexa) from Heteromyid Rodents in the Southwestern United States, Baja California, and Northern Mexico with Three New Species from Chaetodipus hispidus

Authors

Paulette L. Ford, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Albuquerque LabFollow
Donald W. Duszynski, University of New MexicoFollow
C. T. McAllister, University of North Texas

Date of this Version

6-1990

Comments

Published in the Journal of Parasitology (June 1990) 76(3): 325-331. Copyright 1990, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.

Abstract

Fecal samples from 223 heteromyid rodents of 4 genera and 13 species were collected from California, New Mexico, and Texas and from Baja California Norte and Sonora, Mexico. Of these, 84 (38%) were infected with coccidian oocysts; 72 of 84 (86%) infected animals had only 1 species of coccidian. Eleven species of coccidia were identified including 1 cyclosporan and 10 eimerians; the cyclosporan and 2 of the eimerians are described as new species. Sporulated oocysts of Cyclospora angimurinensis n. sp. were subspheroidal, 21.9 x 19.3 (19-24 x 16-22) μm, with sporocysts lemon-shaped, 11.9 x 9.5 (9-15 x 8-11) μm; it was found in 1 of 20 (4%) C. haetodipushispidus. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria chaetodipi n. sp. were subspheroidal, 16.7 x 14.6 (13-19.5 x 12-17) μm, with sporocysts ovoidal, 8.7 x 6.6 (7.5-10.5 x 5-7.5) μm; it was found in 3 of 20 (15%) C. hispidus. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria hispidensis n. sp. were subspheroidal, 20.5 x 17.4 (17-23 x 14-21) μm, with sporocysts lemon-shaped, 9.3 x 7.2 (7.5-10.5 x 5-9) μm; it was found in 4 of 20 (20%) C. hispidus. Prevalence of infection included 0 of 20 Chaetodipus arenarius, 0 of 16 Chaetodipus baileyi, 25 of 46 (54%) Chaetodipus californicus, 13 of 30 (43%) Chaetodipus fallax, 7 of 20 (35%) Chaetodipus formosus, 14 of 20 (70%) C. hispidus, 4 of 25 (16%) Chaetodipus penicillatus, 5 of 7 (71%) Chaetodipus spinatus, 8 of 21 (38%) Dipodomys elator, 1 of 1 Perognathus flavescens, 5 of 11 (45%) Perognathus filavus, 0 of 3 Perognathus inornatus, and 2 of 3 (67%) Liomys pictus. The following coccidians were identified from infected rodents: C. angimurinensis n. sp. from C. hispidus; Eimeria albigulae from C. californicus; Eimeria arizonensis from C. californicus and D. elator, E. chaetodipi n. sp. from C. hispidus; Eimeria balphae from D. elator; E. hispidensis n. sp. from C. hispidus; Eimeria langebarteli from C. hispidus; Eimeria liomysis from L. pictus; Eimeria merriami from C. penicillatus; Eimeria reedi from C. californicus, C. fallax, C. formosus, C. hispidus, C. penicillatus, C. spinatus, and P. flavus; and Eimeria scholtysecki from C. californicus.