Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of
Date of this Version
12-1982
Abstract
Of 103 jumping mice (Zapus spp.) examined, 29 (28.2%) had coccidian oocysts in their feces: one of seven (14%) Z. trinotatus eureka from Humboldt Co., California; 25 of 60 (42%) Z. princeps princeps, including seven of 18 (39%) from Boulder Co., Colorado, and 18 of 42 (43%) from Santa Fe and Taos Cos., New Mexico; and three of 36 (8%) Z. h. luteus, including one of one from Sandoval Co., New Mexico, two of 13 (15%) from Apache Co., Arizona, and none of 22 from Otero and Soccoro Cos., New Mexico. Twenty-eight of 29 infected mice had only Eimeria zapi oocysts in their feces; the only Z. h. luteus from Fenton Lake, Sandoval Co., New Mexico, had oocysts of a species which we describe here as new. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria hudsonii sp. n. from Z. h. luteus are elliptical, 20.9 × 14.4 (18-23 × 13-16) μm with ovoid sporocysts 10.5 × 5.6 (8-11 × 5- 7) μm. A micropyle cap, polar and substieda bodies were absent, but a micropyle, oocyst and sporocyst residua, and Stieda body were present. Sporozoites have one large posterior refractile body. The oocyst wall has two layers. This is only the second eimerian reported from Zapus spp. The geographic distribution of E. zapi closely paralleled genetic and geographic features recently reported within the host taxon Z. h. luteus.
Comments
Published in the Journal of Parasitology (December 1982) 68(6): 1,146-1,148. Copyright 1982, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.