Isospora brasilsatoae n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from thrushes Turdus spp. (Passeriformes: Turdidae) from Brazil

Zootaxa. 2019 Feb 14;4555(3):433-440. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4555.3.12.

Abstract

A new species of coccidia (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) found parasitizing the yellow-legged thrush Turdus flavipes (Vieillot, 1818), the pale-breasted thrush Turdus leucomelas Vieillot, 1818 and the creamy-bellied thrush Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis, 1850 in Southeastern Brazil is described. Isospora brasilsatoae n. sp. has oocysts that are ovoidal to pyriform, 26.8 × 21.1 μm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~1.6 μm thick. Micropyle present. Oocyst residuum absent, but one to three polar granules are present. Sporocysts are elongate ovoidal, 18.1 × 10.5 μm. Stieda body knob-like and sub-Stieda body trapezoidal. Sporocyst residuum is composed of granules that appear to be membrane-bounded. Sporozoites are vermiform with refractile bodies and striations. This is the ninth description of an Isospora sp. parasitizing a New World thrush.

Keywords: Protist, taxonomy, morphology, coccidia, Isospora, oocysts, Passeriformes, Turdidae, Itatiaia National Park, Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Guapimirim, Cacaria, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Feces
  • Isospora*
  • Oocysts
  • Passeriformes*
  • Songbirds*