Coccidian Parasites (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of Microtus spp. (Rodentia: Arvicolidae) from the United States, Mexico, and Japan, with Descriptions of Five New Species

Authors

• Tedman L. Vance, Louisiana State University
• Donald W. Duszynski, University of New MexicoFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

6-1985

Comments

Published in the Journal of Parasitology (June 1985) 71(3): 302-311. Copyright 1985, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.

Abstract

Beginning in July 1980, 149 voles (Microtus spp.) representing 9 species and 14 subspecies collected in Japan, Mexico and the United States were examined for coccidia; 67 (45%) had oocysts in their feces. These included 1 of 3 (33%) M. californicus sactidiegi; 0 of 1 M. longicaudus longicaudus; 0 of 1 M. l. macrurus; 48 of 111 (43%) M. mexicanus including 11 of 26 (42%) M. m. fulviventer, 1 of 2 (50%) M. m. fundatus, 13 of 31 (42%) M. m. mexicanus, 1 of 4 (25%) M. m. mogollonensis and 22 of 48 (46%) M. m. subsimus; 5 of 8 (63%) M. montanus arizonensis; 6 of 6 M. montebelli montebelli; 2 of 4 (50%) M . oregoni oregoni; 5 of 13 (38%) M . pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus; 0 of 1 M. quasiater and 0 of 1 <>M. townsendii townsendii. The following coccidians were identified from infected voles: Eimeria saxei n. sp. (syn. E. wenrichi "B") from M. c. sactidiegi; E. ochrogasteri, E. saxei, E. wenrichi (syn. E. wenrichi "A"), and Eimeria sp. from M. m. fulviventer, Eimeria sp. from M. m. fundatus; E. ochrogasteri, E. saxei, Eimeria tolucadensis n. sp., E. wenrichi, and Eimeria sp. from M. m. mexicanus; E. wenrichi from M. m. mogollonensis; Eimeria coahuiliensis n. sp., E. saxei, Eimeria subsimi n. sp., E. wenrichi, Eimeria sp., and Isospora mexicana subsimi n. sp. from M. m. subsimus; E. tamiasciuri and E. wenrichi from M. m. arizonensis; Eimeria spp. from M. m. montebelli; E. saxei and E. wenrichi from M. o. oregoni; and E. ochrogasteri and E. wenrichi from M. p. pennsylvanicus. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria coahuiliensis n. sp. were ellipsoid, 29.6 x 19.6 (27-34 x 18-22) μm with ovoid sporocysts 14.4 x 8.9 (13-18 x 8-10) μm. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria saxei n. sp. were subspheroid, 13.0 x 11.0 (11-14 x 10-12) μm with ovoid sporocysts 7.5 x 4.0 (6-9 x 4-5) μm. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria subsimi n. sp. were ovoid/subspheroid, 25.1 x 18.7(22-28 x 17-21) μm with ellipsoid sporocysts 13.9 x 7.4 (13-15 x 6-8) μm. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tolucadensis n. sp. were subspheroid, 25.4 x 20.3 (23-26 x 19-23) μm with ellipsoid sporocysts 11.3 x 7.8 (10-13 x 7-9) μm. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora mexicana subsimi n. sp. were subspheroid, 23.7 x 23.1 (21-26 x 21-26) μm with ovoid sporocysts 14.9 x 10.8 (12-16 x 10-12) μm. Only 6 of 67 (9%) infected voles were found to be naturally infected with more than a single coccidium. The world literature on coccidian parasites of voles (1 caryosporan, 31 eimerians, 1 frankelian, 2 isosporans, 4 sarcocystans, exclusive of the 5 new species described here) was reviewed.