Coccidian parasites in the endangered Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii) in China, with the description of six new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae)

We examined 674 fresh fecal samples from forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii Flerov) in Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces, China, for coccidian oocysts and 65% were infected with Eimeria spp. Previously, only four Eimeria species were known from Moschus spp. Here we describe six new Eimeria species. E...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasite
Main Authors: Gao Yunyun, Duszynski Donald W., Yuan Fulin, Hu Defu, Zhang Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2021-01-01
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Online Access:https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2021/01/parasite210087/parasite210087.html
Description
Summary:We examined 674 fresh fecal samples from forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii Flerov) in Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces, China, for coccidian oocysts and 65% were infected with Eimeria spp. Previously, only four Eimeria species were known from Moschus spp. Here we describe six new Eimeria species. Eimeria aquae n. sp., in 38% deer, has ovoidal oocysts, 32.0 × 23.0 μm, micropyle (M) and scattered polar granules (PGs) of various sizes are present, sometimes oocyst residuum (OR) is present; ovoidal sporocysts, 14.1 × 7.5 μm, with Stieda body (SB) and sporocyst residuum (SR). Eimeria dolichocystis n. sp., in 11% deer; cylindroidal oocysts, 36.6 × 18.9, with a M, 1 PG and OR; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.9 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria fengxianensis n. sp., in 7% deer; ovoidal oocysts, 36.3 × 25.2, a M and PGs present but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.9 × 7.3, with SB and SR. Eimeria helini n. sp. in 24% deer; subspheroidal oocysts, 27.0 × 24.1, OR and PGs often present, but M absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.5 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria kaii n. sp. in 26% deer; ovoidal oocysts, 33.2 × 20.7, M and PGs present, but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 14.4 × 7.5, with SB and SR. Eimeria oocylindrica n. sp., in 17% deer; cylindroidal oocysts, 36.0 × 21.4, M and 1-2 PGs present but OR absent; ovoidal sporocysts, 13.8 × 7.7, with SB and SR. Eimeria dujiangyanensis n. nom. is proposed to replace E. moschus Sha, Zhang, Cai, Wang & Liu, 1994, a junior homonym of E. moschus Matschoulsky, 1947.
ISSN:1776-1042