Description of 3 new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) in Namibia

Abstract

We document morphological descriptions for 3 newly described Eimeria spp. that infect springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis). Eimeria antidorcasi n. sp. oocysts are ovoid, with average size (n 5 346) 26.2 6 18.8 (19.2–33.5 6 13.1– 26.5) mm, a length/width ratio of 1.4 (1.2–2.0), a micropyle, and a polar granule sometimes present. Sporocysts are ovoid (n 5 336), 11.3 6 7.3 (6.0–14.6 6 5.2–9.8) mm, with a length/width ratio of 1.5 (1.1–2.0), a Stieda body, a prominent, ovoid sporocyst residuum, and one refractile body per sporozoite. Eimeria versfeldi n. sp. oocysts are ellipsoid (n 5 136), 38.9 6 26.6 (27.8–48.2 6 21.2–31.0) mm, with a length/width ratio of 1.5 (1.2–2.0), a micropyle cap with submicropylar material, and 2–4 polar granules. Sporocysts are elongate-ovoid (n 5 132), 18.3 6 9.2 (13.2–22.8 6 6.8– 11.2) mm, with a length/width ratio of 2.0 (1.3–2.5), a Stieda body, a small sporocyst residuum present, and an evident nucleus and two refractile bodies per sporozoite. Eimeria gasawayi n. sp. oocysts are subspheroid (n 5 87), 14.8 6 13.6 (11.5–20.0 6 11.1–18.2) mm, with a length/width ratio of 1.1 (1.0–1.2), and no micropyle. Sporocysts are elongate-ovoid (n 5 82), 9.0 6 4.6 (5.5–12.5 6 3.6–6.4) mm, with a length/width ratio of 2.0 (1.3–2.4), a small Stieda body, and an irregularly shaped sporocyst residuum present. These are the first Eimeria spp. described from springbok.