A new eimeria species parasitic in western barred bandicoots, Perameles bougainville (Marsupialia: Peramelidae), in western Australia

J Parasitol. 2006 Dec;92(6):1292-4. doi: 10.1645/GE-892R.1.

Abstract

Feces from western barred bandicoots, Perameles bougainville, examined during routine monitoring of captive breeding colonies and wild populations were frequently found to contain oocysts. Fecal oocysts from 1 individual housed at Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre were allowed to sporulate in 2% potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) at room temperature. Sporulated oocysts are subspheroidal 18.8 X 17.9 (16.9-21.0 x 16.0-19.9) microm, with length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.05 (1.00-1.15), lack a micropyle and oocyst residuum, but they usually have a polar granule within a smooth trilaminate oocyst wall 1.0 (0.7-1.3) microm thick. Sporocysts are ovoid, 9.1 x 7.0 (8.1-10.8 x 6.1-8.6) microm, with L/W ratio of 1.32 (1.04-1.51), have a Stieda body, sporocyst residuum, and 2 comma-shaped sporozoites, each containing 2 spheroidal refractile bodies. Sporulation takes 2-5 days at room temperature. This is the first formal description of an Eimeria species parasitic in the order Peramelemorphia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coccidiosis / epidemiology
  • Coccidiosis / parasitology
  • Coccidiosis / veterinary*
  • Eimeria / classification*
  • Eimeria / isolation & purification
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Marsupialia / parasitology*
  • Oocysts
  • Prevalence
  • Western Australia / epidemiology