Isospora piacobrai n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the masked yellowthroat Geothlypis aequinoctialis (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Parulidae) in South America

Syst Parasitol. 2010 Mar;75(3):225-30. doi: 10.1007/s11230-009-9221-7. Epub 2010 Feb 16.

Abstract

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) obtained from masked yellowthroat Geothlypis aequinoctialis (Gmelin) is reported from Brazil. Isospora piacobrai n. sp. has oöcysts which are subspheroidal to ovoidal, measure 15.8 x 10.5 microm and have a smooth, bilayered wall c. 1.2 microm thick. A micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. Its sporocysts are ovoidal and measure 15.8 x 10.5 microm. The Stieda body is knob-like and prominent, the substieda body large, trapezoidal and homogeneous, and the sporocyst residuum composed of granules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with one refractile body and a nucleus. This is the first description of an isosporoid coccidian infecting a bird of the family Parulidae.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bird Diseases / parasitology*
  • Brazil
  • Isospora / classification*
  • Isospora / cytology
  • Isospora / isolation & purification*
  • Isosporiasis / parasitology
  • Isosporiasis / veterinary*
  • Microscopy
  • Passeriformes / parasitology*
  • Spores, Protozoan / cytology