Eimeria spp. from Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica): new characteristic features and diagnostic tools

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Eimeria spp. de codornas japonesas (Coturnix japonica): novas características e ferramentas de diagnóstico.] A codorna japonesa Coturnix japonica originária do norte da África, Europa e Ásia, é utilizada mundialmente como um animal experimental e modelo para avicultura. O presente trabalho caracteriza Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai e Eimeria uzura recuperadas de C. japonica. Baseado no fato de que as codornas têm uma distribuição global, como são os seus coccídios, os resultados deste estudo devem propiciar o diagnóstico destas Eimeria spp. em outras regiões e continentes. Eimeria bateri demonstrou a maior intensidade de infecção e eliminaram oocistos a partir do quarto dia após infecção, em contraste E. tsunodai e E. uzura eliminaram oocistos a partir do quinto dia após infecção. As três espécies foram morfometricamente semelhantes e polimórficas. No entanto, a aplicação da regressão linear, histogramas e ANOVA proveram meios para a identificação destas espécies. Finalmente, o algoritmo foi totalmente eficiente uma vez que valores resultantes não foram sobrepostos. TERMOS DE INDEXAÇÃO: Coccidiose, diagnóstico, Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai, Eimeria uzura. INTRODUCTIONThe breeding of Japanese quails Coturnix japonica has excelled in aviculture, due to increased consumption of exotic meats and eggs, and represents an alternative to chicken production. In the USA, Japanese quails were introduced in the 1950s, and at that time the breeding of Japanese quails was already widespread in European countries. In Brazil, Japanese quails were introduced in the 1950s, but large scale production began in the mid 1960's (Howes 1964, Murakami & Ariki 1998, IUCN 2013, Jatoi et al. 2013.In addition to its importance for aviculture, the Japanese quail has become, in recent decades, an important experimental animal for scientific research. It is used extensively in studies examining genetics, nutrition, toxicology, em- The Japanese quail Coturnix japonica originated from North Africa, Europe and Asia, is used worldwide as an experimental animal and model for aviculture. The current paper characterizes Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai and Eimeria uzura recovered from C. japonica. Based on the fact that quails have a global distribution, as are their coccidia, the findings of this study should provide the means for diagnosis of those Eimeria spp. in other regions and continents. Eimeria bateri showed the greatest intensity of infection and shed oocysts from the fourth day after infection; in contrast, E. tsunodai and E. uzura shed oocysts from the fifth day after infection. The three species shared a high degree of similarity and were all polymorphic. Yet, the application of line regressions, histograms and ANOVA provided means for the identification of these species. Finally, the algorithm was very efficient since verified that resultant values were not superimposed.

Coccidia of gallinaceous meat birds in Brazil

“…In Coturnix quails, six Eimeria species are known (Table 1) and three have been reported in Brazil (TEIXEIRA et al, 2004;BERTO et al, 2013). Eimeria bateri, a parasite originally described from Indian quails, seems to be well distributed worldwide (SHAH & JOHNSON, 1971).…”

Studies on coccidian oocysts (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida)

“…The format of this structure can be unique in many species, and may present a variety of characteristic shapes including splinter-like and comma-like (e.g. Isospora frontalis) (BERTO et al, 2009d(BERTO et al, , 2013b.…”

“…(RAMIREZ et al, 2008a;BERTO et al, 2008g, 2009aBERTO et al, 2008g, , 2013bHOFSTATTER;KAWAZOE, 2011;CHINCHILLA et al, 2013). In this context, the redescription of some species has been proposed based upon the observation of a substieda body in their sporocysts (BERTO et al, 2013b). Moreover, Berto et al (2013b) proposed an algorithm, wherein the substieda body is one of the main characteristic features used in the formula, which enabled reliable identification of individual species of Eimeria during routine diagnosis of pathogens of the Japanese quail Coturnix japonica.…”

“…In this context, the redescription of some species has been proposed based upon the observation of a substieda body in their sporocysts (BERTO et al, 2013b). Moreover, Berto et al (2013b) proposed an algorithm, wherein the substieda body is one of the main characteristic features used in the formula, which enabled reliable identification of individual species of Eimeria during routine diagnosis of pathogens of the Japanese quail Coturnix japonica. In common with those workers, we consider this structure to be of immense importance for differential diagnosis and species identification of Eimeria in general.…”

“…More recently, some researchers have produced histograms of length and width superimposed in the graph as shown in Figure 3g. This method has the advantage of providing more detailed observations, permiting confirmation of the shape-index by observing the proximity between the more frequent classes and their respective values (BERTO et al, 2013b;FLAUSINO et al, 2014).…”