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Background All dogs imported into Iceland must undergo mandatory quarantine in a special station before introduction into the country. A faecal sample is collected from the first stool passed by the dog in this station and subsequently examined for the presence of intestinal parasite stages. Case presentation In May 2019 unsporulated oocysts were detected in faeces from a 7-year-old household dog that had been imported from Sweden. Most of the oocysts studied strongly resembled those of Eimeria canis Wenyon, 1923. As this species is not valid, the purpose of the present article was to identify the correct species and examine their possible origin. Studies confirmed the presence of two distinct unsporulated oocyst morphotypes in the faeces; measurements and photomicrographs confirmed their identification as Eimeria magna Pérard, 1925 and Eimeria stiedai (Lindemann, 1865) Kisskalt and Hartmann, 1907 , both common parasites of European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L., 1758). When the owner of the dog was questioned about the food administrated to the dog prior to its import to Iceland, it turned out that it had exclusively been fed dry dog food pellets. However, the owner also reported that on the morning prior to transportation to Iceland, the dog was allowed to move freely in a grassland area where rabbits are common and heaps of their faeces are present. Furthermore, the owner confirmed that the dog consumed rabbit faeces that morning. Conclusion It is believed that this coprophagic behaviour can explain the detection of rabbit eimerids in the dog’s faeces, and that such behaviour must be taken into consideration by veterinarians and other diagnostic personnel when they detect atypical cysts or eggs during coprological examinations.

We examined 674 fresh fecal samples from forest musk deer ( Moschus berezovskii Flerov) in Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces, China, for coccidian oocysts and 65% were infected with Eimeria spp. Previously, only four Eimeria species were known from Moschus spp. Here we describe six new Eimeria species. Eimeria aquae n. sp., in 38% deer, has ovoidal oocysts, 32.0 × 23.0 μm, micropyle (M) and scattered polar granules (PGs) of various sizes are present, sometimes oocyst residuum (OR) is present; ovoidal sporocysts, 14.1 × 7.5 μm, with Stieda body (SB) and sporocyst residuum (SR). Eimeria dolichocystis n. sp., in 11% deer; cylindroidal oocysts, 36.6 × 18.9, with a M, 1 PG and OR; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.9 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria fengxianensis n. sp., in 7% deer; ovoidal oocysts, 36.3 × 25.2, a M and PGs present but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.9 × 7.3, with SB and SR. Eimeria helini n. sp. in 24% deer; subspheroidal oocysts, 27.0 × 24.1, OR and PGs often present, but M absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.5 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria kaii n. sp. in 26% deer; ovoidal oocysts, 33.2 × 20.7, M and PGs present, but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 14.4 × 7.5, with SB and SR. Eimeria oocylindrica n. sp., in 17% deer; cylindroidal oocysts, 36.0 × 21.4, M and 1-2 PGs present but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.8 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria dujiangyanensis n. nom. is proposed to replace E. moschus Sha, Zhang, Cai, Wang & Liu, 1994, a junior homonym of E. moschus Matschoulsky, 1947. Nous avons examiné 674 échantillons de matières fécales fraîches de cerf porte-musc ( Moschus berezovskii Flerov) dans les provinces du Sichuan et du Shaanxi, en Chine, pour les oocystes de coccidies et 65 % étaient infectés par Eimeria spp. Auparavant, seules quatre espèces d’ Eimeria étaient connues chez Moschus spp. Nous décrivons ici six nouvelles espèces d’ Eimeria . Eimeria aquae n. sp., chez 38 % des cerfs, a des oocystes ovoïdes, 32,0 × 23,0 μm, micropyle (M) et granules polaires (PG) de différentes tailles présents, parfois des résidus d’oocystes (OR) présents; sporocystes ovoïdes, 14,1 × 7,5 μm, avec corps de Stieda (SB) et résidu de sporocyste (SR). Eimeria dolichocystis n. sp., chez 11 % des cerfs; oocystes cylindroïdes, 36,6 × 18,9, avec un M, 1 PG et OR; sporocystes ovoïdes, 13,9 × 7,7, avec SB et SR. Eimeria fengxianensis n. sp., chez 7 % des cerfs; oocystes ovoïdes, 36,3 × 25,2, M et PG présents mais OR absent; sporocystes ovoïdes, 13,9 × 7,3, avec SB et SR. Eimeria helini n. sp. chez 24 % des cerfs; oocystes subsphéroïdaux, 27,0 × 24,1, OR et PG souvent présents, mais M absent; sporocystes ovoïdes, 13,5 × 7,7, avec SB et SR. Eimeria kaii n. sp. chez 26 % des cerfs; oocystes ovoïdes, 33,2 × 20,7, M et PG présents, mais OR absent; sporocystes ovoïdes, 14,4 × 7,5, avec SB et SR. Eimeria oocylindrica n. sp., chez 17 % des cerfs; oocystes cylindroïdes, 36,0 × 21,4, M et 1-2 PG présents mais OR absent; sporocystes ovoïdes, 13,8 × 7,7, avec SB et SR. Eimeria dujiangyanensis n. nom. est proposé pour remplacer E. moschus Sha, Zhang, Cai, Wang & Liu, 1994, homonyme junior de E. moschus Matschoulsky, 1947.

Over the last two decades my colleagues and I have assembled the literature on a good percentage of most of the coccidians (Conoidasida) known, to date, to parasitise: Amphibia, four major lineages of Reptilia (Amphisbaenia, Chelonia, Crocodylia, Serpentes), and seven major orders in the Mammalia (Carnivora, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Insectivora, Marsupialia, Primates, Scandentia). These vertebrates, combined, comprise about 15,225 species; only about 899 (5.8%) of them have been surveyed for coccidia and 1,946 apicomplexan valid species names or other forms are recorded in the literature. Based on these compilations and other factors, I extrapolated that there yet may be an additional 31,381 new apicomplexans still to be discovered in just these 12 vertebrate groups. Extending the concept to all of the other extant vertebrates on Earth; i.e. lizards (6,300 spp.), rodents plus 12 minor orders of mammals (3,180 spp.), birds (10,000 spp.), and fishes (33,000 spp.) and, conservatively assuming only two unique apicomplexan species per each vertebrate host species, I extrapolate and extend my prediction that we may eventually find 135,000 new apicomplexans that still need discovery and to be described in and from those vertebrates that have not yet been examined for them! Even doubling that number is a significant underestimation in my opinion.

The order Crocodylia (suborder Eusuchia) includes 27 species of alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and gharials that are cosmopolitan in distribution, inhabiting subtropical and tropical locations. Numerous surveys (many of them trivial, with small sample sizes) have reported a wide variety of blood and intestinal apicomplexans from 17/27 (63%) crocodilian hosts, but neither a summation for the group nor a revisionary systematic approach to species evaluation has ever been provided. Herein, we summarize information on the 16 species of apicomplexans that we consider to be valid, including 8 Eimeria, 1 Haemogregarina (that eventually may be transferred to Hepatozoon), 4 Hepatozoon, 2 Isospora, and 1 Progarnia species. In addition, there are 46 apicomplexan forms that we have relegated to species inquirendae and/or only partially identified forms that await further study. We hope this review provides a foundation for future research between parasitologists and herpetologists on parasitism of all reptiles and their relatives. Since many apicomplexans seem to be reasonably host-specific, knowledge of shared species and/or genera may assist herpetologists to better understand the phylogenetic relationships among the New World crocodilians and the direction of their dispersal in the New World.

Legless lizards (Amphisbaenia) belong to a group of mostly legless squamates that include about 196 species. One genus (Bipes) retains a pair of forelimbs, but all other 19 genera in the clade are limbless. They are widely distributed, occurring in the Middle East and the Caribbean and nearly all of the major continents (except Australia). Only 2/6 (33%) families, 3/20 (15%) genera, and 4/195 (2%) species in the Amphisbaenia clade of the Sauria have been examined for coccidia and 8 coccidia species are now known. Here, we summarize information on the 8 species of coccidia (3 Choleoeimeria, 1 Eimeria, 4 Isospora) reported from legless lizards of the world. In addition, Eimeria amphisbaeniarum Huntington, Cisper, Smith, Powell, Parmerlee Jr., and Lathrop, 1996, is placed in the genus Choleoeimeria. We speculate that another 380 intestinal coccidia infecting this unique reptilian lineage wait to be discovered.

The rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) has a Holarctic breeding distribution and is found in arctic and sub-arctic regions. Isolated populations and glacial relicts occur in alpine areas south of the main range, like the Pyrenees in Europe, the Pamir mountains in Central Asia, and the Japanese Alps. In recent decades considerable effort has been made to clarify parasite infections in the rock ptarmigan. Seven Eimeria spp. have been reported parasitizing rock ptarmigan. Two of those species, E. uekii and E. raichoi parasitizing rock ptarmigan (L. m. japonica) in Japan, have been identified genetically. Here we compare partial sequences of nuclear (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial (COI) genes and we detail the morphology of sporulated oocysts of E. uekii and E. raichoi from Japan, E. muta and E. rjupa, from the rock ptarmigan (L. m. islandorum) in Iceland, and two undescribed eimerian morphotypes, Eimeria sp. A, and Eimeria sp. B, from rock ptarmigan (L. m. hyperborea) in Norway (Svalbard in the Norwegian Archipelago). Two morphotypes, ellipsoidal and spheroidal, are recognized for each of the three host subspecies. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that the ellipsoidal oocyst types, E. uekii, E. muta, and Eimeria sp. A (Svalbard-Norway) are identical and infects rock ptarmigan in Japan, Iceland, and Svalbard-Norway, respectively. Eimeria uekii was first described in Japan in 1981 so that E. muta, described in Iceland in 2007, and Eimeria sp. A in Svalbard-Norway are junior synonyms of E. uekii. Also, phylogenetic analysis shows that the spheroidal oocyst types, E. rjupa and Eimeria sp. B (Svalbard-Norway), are identical, indicating that rock ptarmigan in Iceland and Svalbard-Norway are infected by the same Eimeria species and differ from E. raichoi in Japan.

Endogenous stages of the life cycle of Eimeria melanomytis, infecting the peripheral epithelial cells of villi of the small intestine of experimentally infected young dusky rice rats, Melanomys caliginosus, were studied. Giemsa-stained mucosal scrapings and histological sections were examined for all the stages. Eimeria melanomytis has 3 generations of meronts (M), different in size, shape, and number of merozoites (m); and in size, shape, and location of the nuclei within the cytoplasm of the meronts. The 3 meront types, M1–M3, respectively, had 11–14 (m1), 7–10 (m2), and 20–30 (m3) merozoites. Macrogametocytes and microgametocytes, as well as macrogametes and microgametes, complete the sexual cycle forming the unsporulated oocysts. This parasite's endogenous development produced severe intestinal lesions in experimentally infected dusky rice rats.

Rabbit coccidiosis causes great economic losses to world rabbitries. Little work has been done considering genetic manipulation on the etiological agents, rabbit spp. In this study, we constructed a transgenic line of ( ) expressing enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) using regulatory sequences of and . We observed the life cycle of and confirmed that the transgenic parasites express exogenous proteins targeted to different cellular compartments throughout the entire life cycle. EYFP was expressed mainly in the nucleus and RFP both in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Then, coccidia-free, laboratory-reared 40-day-old rabbits were primarily infected with either or wild-type strain oocysts and challenged with the wild-type strain. showed similar reproductivity and immunogenicity to the wild-type strain. Finally, we examined the foreign protein-specific immune response elicited by . Rabbits were immunized with either transgenic or wild-type oocysts. Immune response against parasite-soluble antigen, EYFP and RFP in spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The relative expression level of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α were higher in -immunized rabbits than wild-type parasites-immunized rabbits after stimulation with EYFP and RFP. Our study confirmed that a specific immune response was induced by the exogenous protein expressed by and favored future studies on application of transgenic rabbit coccidia as recombinant vaccine vectors.