Eimeria chinchillae De Vos & Van der Westhuizen, 1968 and other Eimeria spp. from three South African rodent species

Abstract

Eimeria chinchillae De Vos & Van der Westhuizen, 1968, an organism originally described from the chinchilla and subsequently shown to be transmissible to other rodents, was found to occur naturally in Rhabdomys pumilio (Sparrman, 1784) in South Africa. The morphology of the oocysts, the site of development of the endogenous stages and the prepatent period of the infection were similar to those of E. chinchillae obtained from chinchillas and transmitted experimentally to R. pumilio. The identity of the organism was confirmed by the successful infection of chinchillas. Three additional Eimeria spp. were found in R. pumilio. Oocysts of Eimeria pumilioi n. sp. measured 18 by 12 µ, those of Eimeria rhabdomyis n. sp., 13 by 12 µ and those of Eimeria pretoriensis n. sp., 24 by 19 µ. Two Eimeria spp. were also found in Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis (Smith, 1834). Oocysts of Eimeria mastomyis n. sp. measured 27 by 21 µ and those of Eimeria theileri n. sp. 20 by 17 µ. A single Eimeria sp., Eimeria otomyis n. sp., was found in Otomys irroratus (Brants, 1827). The oocysts measured 20 by 15 µ.