The Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of Testudines, with descriptions of three new species
Three new species of Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from turtles in Texas, U.S.A. Oocysts of Eimeria texana sp.n. were found in 2/8 (25%) Texas cooters, Pseudemys texana, and are bent-cylindrical or elongate, 20.5 × 8.4 (17.6–23.2 × 7.2–9.0) μm (mean, range), with a smooth, thin, single-layered wall. A micropyle is absent but an oocyst residuum and polar granule are present. Sporocysts are ovoid, 8.1 × 4.7 (7.0–8.8 × 4.0–5.4) μm, with a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. Oocysts of Eimeria cooteri sp.n. were recovered from 3/8 (37.5%) Pseudemys texana and are ellipsoid or bent-cylindrical, 25.9 × 10.9 (22.6–28.0 × 9.6–12.8) μm, with a single-layered wall. A polar granule and oocyst residuum are present but a micropyle is absent. Sporocysts are elongate, 14.9 × 5.3 (12.8–16.0 × 4.8–6.6) μm, with an elongate Stieda body capped by tiny knob-like thickenings and covered by a thin membrane; sporocyst residuum present. Oocysts of Eimeria stylosa sp.n. were harbored by 2/16 (12.5%) red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans, and are ovoid, 16.5 × 13.1 (14.4–17.6 × 12.0–14.4) μm, with a single-layered wall. Each end of the oocyst bears conical projections ca. 4.0 μm long. A micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid, 11.1 × 5.8 (9.6–14.4 × 5.4–7.2) μm, with a small Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. A table of the more than 30 species of Coccidia of turtles is presented.