Coccidia from Kangaroo Rats (Dipodomys spp.) in the Western United States, Baja California, and Northern Mexico with Descriptions of Eimeria merriami sp. n. and Isospora sp.

Authors

Carla A. Stout, University of New Mexico
Donald W. Duszynski, University of New MexicoFollow

Date of this Version

2-1983

Comments

Published in the Journal of Parasitology (February 1983) 69(1): 209-214. Copyright 1983, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.

Abstract

Since January 1975, 104 of 361 (29%) kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) examined for coccidia had oocysts in their feces. These included 32 of 71 (45%) D. agilis from California (3 of 8, 38%) and Baja California Norte (29 of 63, 46%); none of 18 D. deserti from Sonora, Mexico; one of one D. gravipes from Baja Norte; 43 of 124 (35%) D. merriami from California (1 of 4, 25%), New Mexico (16 of 49, 33%), Baja Norte (12 of 23, 52%), Baja Sur (6 of 20, 30%), and Sonora, Mexico (8 of 28, 29%); 17 of 103 (17%) D. ordii from Oregon (0 of 9), Texas (3 of 9, 33%), and New Mexico (14 of 85, 17%); three of 14 (21%) D. panamintinus from California; and eight of 30 (27%) D. spectabilis from New Mexico. The following coccidians were identified from infected rats: Eimeria balphae, E. chobotari, E. scholtysecki, Eimeria sp., E. utahensis, and Isospora sp. from D. agilis; E. scholtysecki from D. gravipes; E. balphae, E. chobotari, E. chihuahuaensis, E. dipodomysis, Eimeria merriami sp. n., Eimeria sp., and E. utahensis from D. merriami; E. balphae, E. chobotari, and E. dipodomysis from D. ordii; E. scholtysecki and Eimeria sp. from D. panamintinus; and E. balphae and E. scholtysecki from D. spectabilis. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria merriami sp. n. from D. merriami were subspherical, 24.3 × 22.7 (21-27 × 20-26) μm with ovoid sporocysts 10.6 × 7.6 (9-12 × 7-9) μm. No micropyle or polar body were present, but oocyst and sporocyst residua, Stieda and substieda bodies were present. The oocyst wall has two layers. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora sp. from D. agilis were nearly spherical, 25.5 × 25 (21-28 × 20-28) μm with broadly ovoid sporocysts 14.5 × 10.0 (12-19 × 9-13) μm. No micropyle, oocyst residuum and substieda body were present, but a polar granule, sporocyst residuum and Stieda body were present. The oocyst wall had two layers. There are no other isosporans described from heteromyid rodents. Greater than 91% (195 of 213) of all Dipodomys found to be naturally infected with coccidia in this study, and in all other published surveys, harbored only a single parasite species at any one time.