Two new species of coccidian parasites are described from African reptiles. Oocysts of Eimeria foulshami sp. n. from the plated lizard Gerrhosaurus major bottegoi Del Prato of Sudan are ellipsoidal, 24.1 × 14.9 (23-26.5 × 14-17.8) µm with a bilayered, colourless oocyst wall and lack polar granules. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 8.6 × 4.6 (7-10.6 × 4.4-7) µm and possess a prominent, globular, sporocyst residuum. Oocysts of Caryospora regentensis sp. n. from the green mamba Dendroaspis viridis Hallowell of Kenya are spherical to subspherical, 16.8 × 16.4 (16-17.6 × 15-17.2) µm with a bilayered oocyst wall and a single polar granule. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 13.0 × 10.3 (10.2-14 × 9.2-11) µm and possess a Stieda and substieda body and a prominent globular sporocyst residuum. Oocysts of Caryospora legeri Hoare, 1933 are reported from a hissing sand snake, Psammophis sibilans sibilans L. from Nigeria, representing a new geographical record. The oocysts are slightly larger than the type, but otherwise identical. Caryospora psammophi Bray, 1960 and C. hermae Bray, 1960 from Psammophis sibilans phillipsi, oocysts of which are morphologically similar to and overlap in dimensions with C. legeri Hoare, 1933, are synonymised with the latter species. Eimeria samiae Iskander et Tadros, 1979 is emended to E. samyadeli to reflect the gender of the person the species was named after and because E. sami is preoccupied. In addition to these findings, Eimeria bohemi Modrý, Šlapeta et Koudela, 2000 and oocysts of an unidentified spherical Eimeria sp. are reported from Chamaeleo dilepis dilepis Leach from Cameroon.
Over the last two decades my colleagues and I have assembled the literature on a good percentage of most of the coccidians (Conoidasida) known, to date, to parasitise: Amphibia, four major lineages of Reptilia (Amphisbaenia, Chelonia, Crocodylia, Serpentes), and seven major orders in the Mammalia (Carnivora, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Insectivora, Marsupialia, Primates, Scandentia). These vertebrates, combined, comprise about 15,225 species; only about 899 (5.8%) of them have been surveyed for coccidia and 1,946 apicomplexan valid species names or other forms are recorded in the literature. Based on these compilations and other factors, I extrapolated that there yet may be an additional 31,381 new apicomplexans still to be discovered in just these 12 vertebrate groups. Extending the concept to all of the other extant vertebrates on Earth; i.e. lizards (6,300 spp.), rodents plus 12 minor orders of mammals (3,180 spp.), birds (10,000 spp.), and fishes (33,000 spp.) and, conservatively assuming only two unique apicomplexan species per each vertebrate host species, I extrapolate and extend my prediction that we may eventually find 135,000 new apicomplexans that still need discovery and to be described in and from those vertebrates that have not yet been examined for them! Even doubling that number is a significant underestimation in my opinion.
A new coccidian parasite of the genus Caryospora is described from a long nosed vine snake, Ahaetulla nasuta, Lacépède, 1789 from Thailand. Oocysts of Caryospora ahaetullae sp. n. are spherical or slightly subspherical, 24.8 (22.5-26.0) pm in diameter, with a single-layered wall about 0.75 pm thick. A micropyle or oocyst residuum is absent. One, rarely two, polar granules are present, 1.5-2.0 pm. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 18.5 x 14.2 (18.0-19.5 x 13.0-15.0) pm with prominent Stieda and substieda bodies. Sporocyst residuum present, consisting of numerous very small granules scattered among 8 sporozoites. Sporo-zoites, with prominent transverse striations anteriorly, are vermiform, 15.0 x 3.8 (13.5-16.5 x 3.5—4.5) pm (in situ), lying lengthwise and parallel within sporocyst. Each sporozoite contains a spherical anterior and spherical to subspherical posterior refractile bodies.
A new coccidian parasite of the genus Caryospora Léger is described from the colubrid snake Boiga dendrophila Boie, 1827 imported from Kalimantan. Oocysts of Caryospora kalimaniunensis sp. n. are spherical, 18.7 (17.0-20.0) pm in diameter, with a bilayered slightly pitted and brownish oocyst wall. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. One globular polar granule is present in 45% of sporulated oocysts. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 14.5 (13.0-15.5) x 10.5 (10.0-11.0) pm, with prominent Stieda and substieda bodies. Sporocyst residuum is present as small granules scattered among sporozoites. Sporozoites are elongate, lying lengthwise and parallel within the sporocyst and completely filling the sporocyst. Each sporo-zoite contains a spherical anterior and posterior refractile bodies.
Faecal examination of the long nosed vine snake Ahaetulla nasuta Lacépède, 1789 revealed two species of caryosporan coccidia. The morphology of one species fits well with a description of Caryospora ahaetullae Modrý et Koudela, 1994, the second is a previously undescribed species. Oocysts of Caryospora veselyi sp. n. were spherical, 18.9 (16.5-21.5) pm in diameter, with pitted and brownish oocyst wall about 1.5 pm thick. An irregular polar granule about 2,0 x 1.0 pm was observed in 35% of the oocysts examined. Sporocysts were octozoic, ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 13.7 (13.0-15.5) x 10.3 (9.0-11.0) pm with a shape index 1.3 (1.2-1.4). Stieda and substieda bodies were present. Sporocyst residuum was present as small granules of irregular size scattered among sporozoiles. Both species sporulated within 72 hours. The infected snake did not show clinical signs of disease.
Parasitological examination of faeces of 26 snakes kept in Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Watamu, Kenya revealed new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 in Telescopus semiannulatus Smith, 1849. Oocysts of Eimeria arabukosokokensis sp. n. are cylindrical 26.8 (25-29) × 15.1 (14-16) µm with smooth, bilayered oocyst wall and a single polar granule. The broadly ellipsoidal sporocysts average 9.3 (8.5-10) × 7.1 (6.5-7.5) µm and possess single-layered wall composed of two plates joined by longitudinal suture. Caryospora cf. regentensis Daszak et Ball, 2001 is reported from Dendroaspis angusticeps (Smith, 1849) and two additional forms of Caryospora Léger, 1904 are reported and morphologically characterised from a single specimen of Psammophis orientalis Broadley, 1977. Systematic status of Caryospora spp. in sub-Saharan Psammophis Boie, 1827 is discusses and all species reported by various authors to date are suggested to be treated as species inquirendae until more detailed data on these parasites and their hosts are available.
A new species of Proteocephalus, P. joanae sp. n„ is described from the intestine of the colubrid snake, Xenodon neuwiedi (Günther, 1863) (Serpentes: Xenodontinae), from Brazil. The new species differs from all other members of Proteocephalus by possessing a swollen elongated posterior part of the scolex herein considered as a metascolex. Furthermore, it is the only member of New World Proteocephalus possessing a voluminous glandular apical organ larger than suckers. P. joanae is also characterized by very elongated gravid proglottides. This is the first member of the Proteocephalidea occurring in Xenodon. Even though the species differs significantly from other species of the genus Proteocephalus, which currently contains many species that are morphologically very distinctive, it seems prudent to refrain from reworking the classification of the group until accurate redescriptions of Neotropical species can be conducted, preferably based on examination of type and freshly collected material. The definition of the metascolex is discussed herein.
During a survey of the coccidian parasites of reptiles, caryosporan oocysts were found in the faeces of wild and captive European viperid snakes Vipera berus (L.) and V. ammodytes (L.). Thirty two of 37 examined V. herus (86%) and 9 of 17 examined V. ammodytes (53%) specimens were found to be passing caryosporan oocysts. Morphological characters of all caryosporan isolates were identical and fitted well with the description of Caryospora simplex Léger, 1904. Experimental inoculation of severe combined immunodeficient (SC1D) mice with seven isolates of C. simplex from V. berus or V. ammodytes confirmed the heteroxenous life cycle pattern, for the first time for isolates of evidently European origin. Caryosporan developmental stages were observed in the connective tissues of the nose, cheeks, ear and scrotum in all inoculated SCID mice. V. berus and V. ammodytes represent new hosts for C. simplex. The present paper represents the first widely based report on coccidian parasites of the genus Caryospora Léger in European viperids. Our findings indicate a wide distribution of C. simplex throughout the range of distribution of snakes of the genus Vipera.