Eimeria species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of podocnemis expansa (Schweigger) and geochelone denticulata (LINN.) from Amazonian Brazil (Reptilia: Chelonia)

Abstract

Eimeria lagunculata, Eimeria mammiformis and Eimeria podocnemis n. spp., are described from the faeces of the fresh-water turtle Podocnemis expansa, in Pará State, north Brasil. Oocysts of E. lagunculata are ellipsoidal, 19.2 x 12.8 (17.0-20.7 x 11.8-14.1) mum, shape-index (= length/ width) 1.5 (1.4-1.7). Oocyst wall about 0.5-0.7 mum thick, with a prominent stopper-like micropyle at one pole. No oocyst residuum and no polar body. Sporocysts elongate ellipsoidal, 11.0 x 5.4 (10.4-11.8 x 5.2-6.0) mum, shape-index 2.0 (1.8-2.1): no Stieda body. A compact, ellipsoidal sporocyst residuum lies between the two sporozoites, which possess a posterior and an anterior refractile body. Oocysts of E. mammiformis broadly ellipsoidal, 30.0 x 19.4 (23.0-37.0 x 16.3-21.5) mum, shape-index 1.5 (1.1-1.9). Oocyst wall about 0.7 mum thick, with a prominent micropyle: no oocyst residuum and rarely a single polar body. Sporocysts ellipsoidal, 15.3 x 7.9 (14.8-17.0 x 7.4-9.6) mum, shape-index 2.0 (1.8-2.2), with a tiny Stieda body. Sporocyst residuum bulky, ellipsoidal: sporozoites with two conspicuous refractile bodies. E. podocnemis has broadly ellipsoidal oocysts, 17.0 x 12.8 (14.8-19.2 x 11.8-14.1) mum, shape-index 1.3 (1.1-1.4). Oocyst wall about 0.5-0.7 mum thick, with no micropyle. No oocyst residuum, but always a single polar body. Sporocysts ellipsoidal, 9.7 x 5.2 (8.9-10.4 x 4.4-6.0) mum, shape-index 1.9 (1.6-2.0), with no Stieda body. Sporocyst residuum bulky, ellipsoidal: sporocysts with 2 refractile bodies. Eimeria carinii n. sp., is recorded from the tortoise Geochelone denticulata, also from Pará. Oocyst wall about 1.2 mum thicl. No micropyle. Oocyst residuum limited to a number (about 10-20) of scattered granules: no polar body. Sporocysts broadly ellipsoidal, and with no Stieda body: they measure 8,8 x 7.3 (8.0-9.0 x 7.0-7.5) mum, shape-index 1.2 (1.1-1.3). Sporocyst residuum bulky, spherical to ellipsoidal: sporozoites possess both posterior and anterior refractile bodies

A new Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), possessing mitra-shaped oocysts, from the Neotropical chelid turtle Batrachemys heliostemma (Testudines: Chelidae), and its comparison with Eimeria mitraria (Laveran & Mesnil 1902)

“…n., including recently discovered Eimeria from the African side-necked turtle Pelomedusa subrufa (Lacépède 1788) (Široký et al 2006). Also none of the five remaining species of genus Eimeria previously described from turtles of the Neotropical region, resembles the new species descried above (Carini 1942, Lainson 1968, Lainson et al 1990, Couch et al 1996, Lainson & Naiff 1998, Hùrková et al 2000.…”

“…Up to recently, only eight species of Eimeria were described and named from turtles of this region, three of them (E. jaboti Carini 1942, E. lainsoni Hùrková, Modrý, Koudela & Šlapeta 2000, and E. motelo Hùrková, Modrý, Koudela & Šlapeta 2000 parasitize the Yellow-footed tortoise Geochelone denticulata (Linnaeus 1766). Three others (E. lagunculata Lainson, Costa & Shaw 1990, E. mammiformis Lainson, Costa & Shaw 1990, and E. podocnemis Lainson, Costa & Shaw 1990) were described from the Arrau turtle Podocnemis expansa (Schweigger 1812) and one species was described from each of the Galápagos tortoise Geochelone nigra (Quoy & Gaimard 1824) and the Bigheaded turtle Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Schweigger 1812) (Carini 1942, Lainson et al 1990, Couch et al 1996, Lainson & Naiff 1998, Hùrková et al 2000. We had an opportunity to examine the faeces of two specimens of Batrachemys heliostemma collected at Iquitos and found a new Eimeria possessing mitra-shaped oocysts, described and named in this paper.…”

Description of Eimeria motelo sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the yellow footed tortoise, Geochelone denticulata (Chelonia: Testudinidae), and replacement of Eimeria carinii Lainson, Costa & Shaw, 1990 by Eimeria lainsoni nom. nov.

“…To date, there are five species of Eimeria and one species of Isospora described and named from Testudinidae (Cerruti 1930, Carini 1942, Ernst et al 1971, Davronov 1985, Lainson et al 1990, Couch et al 1996: Eimeria brodeni Cerruti 1930 described from Greek tortoise, Testudo graeca; E. geochelona Couch, Stone, Duszynski, Snell & Snell 1996 from Galápagos tortoise, Geochelone nigra; E. paynei Ernst, Fincher & Stewart, 1971 from gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus; E. jaboti Carini 1942 described from yellow-footed tortoise, Geochelone denticulata; E. carinii Lainson, Costa & Shaw, 1990 from yellow-footed tortoise, Geochelone denticulata; Isospora testudae Davronov 1985 from Horsfield's tortoise, Testudo horsfieldi. Additionally, an intranuclear coccidian was found and described in various tissues of the radiated tortoise, Geochelone radiata by Jacobson et al (1994).…”

“…Lainson et al (1990) described E carinii from yellow-footed tortoise, G. denticulata from Brazil. However, we have found that the name given for this parasite is preoccupied by a homonym, E. carinii Pinto 1928 given to a coccidian from Rattus norvegicus.…”

“…However, we have found that the name given for this parasite is preoccupied by a homonym, E. carinii Pinto 1928 given to a coccidian from Rattus norvegicus. It is, therefore, proposed that Eimeria carinii Lainson, Costa & Shaw, 1990 be replaced by the name Eimeria lainsoni nom. nov., which is given in honour of Professor Ralph Lainson.…”