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A new coccidium Eimeria sundarbanensis n. sp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Sporozoea) from Capra hircus (Mammalia: Artiodactyla)
Probir K. Bandyopadhyay
Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India
Summary
The communication deals with a new coccidian parasite Eimeria sundarbanensis sp. n. from the faecal sample of farm-reared goat Capra hircus from Sundarban, West Bengal, India. The oocysts are pyriform, measuring 28.0-28.6 |im in length and 20.2-20.6 |im in width. The sporocysts are egg-shaped, 12.7-13.0 |im in length and 10.1-10.4 |im in width. The sporozoites are sickle-shaped, lying lengthwise head to tail inside the sporocyst.
Key words: Coccidia, parasite, goat, Eimeria sundarbanensis sp. n.
Introduction
Coccidia and coccidiosis of sheep and goats were studied by many scientists. A number of coccidian parasites of sheep and goats have been described. Some of them are interchangeable between these two hosts. However, Levine suggested that the parasites of sheep are distinct from those ofgoats. Martin (1909a, 1909b), Yakimoff and Rastegaieff (1930), Shah (1965), Chevalier (1966), Sivanarayan and Venkataratnam (1969), Musaev (1970), Lima (1979, 1980) and Musaev and Mamedova (1981) described several Eimeria species from the goat. Kar (1943) and Ray (1952) described two new species of Eimeria from sheep and goats. The present investigation reveals one more coccidian, parasitising the farm-reared goat from Sundarban, West Bengal, India.
Material and methods
Faecal samples were collected immediately after defecation, and mixed with potassium dichromate (KjCr2O7) solution in a concentration of 2.5%. The material was passed through two layers of cheese cloth to remove coarse particles and then poured into a Petri dish, 15 + 20 mm, the depth of the layer being less than 4 mm. Sporulation was allowed to take place at room temperature. Air bubbles were introduced from time to time to aerate the material for better sporulation. The oocysts were examined prior to incubation. The sporulation process was observed by concentrating the oocysts, which was achieved by centrifugal flotation using super saturated sugar solution. Both unsporulated and sporulated oocysts were studied under oil immersion microscope. Observation focused largely on
© 2004 by Russia, Protistology
224 • Probir K. Bandyopadhyay
sporulated oocysts. Measurements were taken with an ocular micrometer. Camera lucida drawings were made.
Results
Eimeria sundarbanensis sp. n. (Figs 1-3, Table 1)
The oocysts are pyriform, measuring 28.0-28.6 ^m in length and 20.2 —20.6 ^m in width. The oocyst wall is two-layered. The outer layer is smooth, slightly yellowish or colourless, 0.2-0.4 ^m thick. The inner layer is distinctly visible, yellowish brown, 0.6-0.9 !m thick. The oocyst has no residuum. The sporocysts are egg-shaped, 12.7-13.0 ^m in length and 10.1-10.4 ^m in width without the Steida body and the residuum. The sporozoites are sickle-shaped, with one end narrower than the other, lying length-wise head to tail inside the sporocyst, with 1-2 globules. The micropyle is present, micropylar cap is prominent and colourless. It measures 3.1 ^m. Detailed measurements of different stages of E. sundarbanensis sp. n. are given in Table 1.
Survey of India, Calcutta
Etymology: The species name has been derived from the collection place, Sundarban, West Bengal, India
Discussion
Among the 17 accepted species of Eimeria from goats (Levine, 1988; Soe and Pomroy 1992) from various countries, E. sundarbanensis sp.n. from India resembles E. africiensis(Musaev and Mamedova, 1981), E. arloingi (Lima, 1980), E. capralis (Soe and Pomroy, 1992), E. christenseni (Lima, 1980), E. hirci (Lima, 1980^, E. jolchijevi (Lima, 1980), E. kocharli (Vercruysse, 1982), E. minasensis (Silva and Lima, 1998) in having a micropylar cap. Of the capped species only E. africiensis and E. hirci are close to the present species when dimensions of different parts are considered. E. capralis, E. arloingi, E. christenseni, E. jolchijevi, E. kocharii, E. minasensis are comparatively larger species than E. sundarbansis sp. n. E. sundarbanensis sp. n. is different
Figs 1-3. Eimeria sundarbanensis sp. n. 1 - Immature oocysts; 2—3 - mature oocysts. Abbreviations: ol — outer layer, il — inner layer, mc — micropylar cap.
Taxonomic summary:
Host: Capra hircus (Mammalia: Artiodactylaj Area/Locality: Sundarban, West Bengal, India Infection locus: Oocyst, found in faeces Incidence: 6 out of 12 (50%)
Symbiontype: Host GT. 06/12/03 deposited in the departmental museum of the University of Kalyani, Kalyani
Site of infection: Unknown, oocysts collected directly from host faeces
Type specimen: Phototypes of oocysts will be deposited in the national collection of Zoological
from E. africiensis and E. hirci in having pyriform oocysts and egg-shaped sporocysts. Stieda body is absent in the specimens under discussion, while it is present in E. africiensis and E hirci. On the basis ofthese characteristics, I consider the species described here to be a new coccidian and propose for it the name E. sundarbanensis.
References
Chevalier H. J. 1966. Uber die Coccidienarten der Ziegen in Deutschland. Deut. Tierarztl. Wschr. 73, 616621.
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Table 1. Comparative studies of Eimeria sundarbanensis sp. n. along with its related species.
Oocyst Sporocyst
Parasite Author
pC ^ § 3 -J w Width (pm) L/W ratio Length (pm) Width (pm) L/W ratio
E. africiensis Musaev and Mamedova (1981) 25.63 (22-26) 20.36 (18-22) 1.2 (1.1-1.3) 17.16 (12-18) 9.03 (8.0-10.0) Not stated
E. capralis Soe and Pomroy (1992) 29.2+1.6 19.7+1.1 1.40+0.01 12.7+0.60 7.5+0.40 1.60+0.10
(25-34) (19.5-24.5) (1.30-1.710) (11.0-14.0) (6.5-9.0) (1.30-1.90)
E. arloingi Lima (1980) 28.2+2.34 19.8+1.38 1.43+0.10 14.0+1.29 7.3+0.63 1.95+0.23
(22-35.4) (15.9-23.2) (1.12-2.07) (9.8+17.1) (6.1-9.8) (1.29-2.80)
E. christenseni Lima (1980) 37.8+2.38 (30.5-43.9) 25.3+1.57 (22.0-30.5) 1.5+0.09 (1.23-1.78) 15.3+0.77 (12.2-17.1) 9.3+0.56 (7.9-10.4) 1.64+0.11 (1.33-2.00)
E. hirci Lima (1980) 22.7+2.11 18.1+1.16 1.26+0.11 10.9+0.93 7.0+0.63 1.58+0.19
(18.3-29.3) (15.9-20.7) (1.06-1.69) (8.5-13.4) (5.5-8.5) (1.14-2.10)
E. jolchijevi Lima (1980) 30.6+2.04 (25.5-36.5) 22.0+1.50 (18.3-25.3) 1.40+0.10 (1.19-1.67) 14.7+1.22 (12.2-17.7) 8.0+0.62 (6.1-9.8) 1.83+0.16 (1.43-2.17)
E. kocharii Vercruysse (1982) 45.46+2.01 (41.0-50.0) 36.67+1.01 (34.0-37.0) Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated
E. minasensis Silva and 35.0+1.5 24.5+1.7 1.4+0.10 15.2+1.10 9.0+0.50 1.70+0.10
Lima (1998) (32.0-37.7) (20.9-27.9) (1.30-1.60) (12.3-18.4) (7.8-10.2) (1.30-2.00)
E. sundarbanensis Present paper 28.3 20.5 1.4 12.8 10.2 1.3
sp. n. (28.0-28.6) (20.2-20.6) (1.1-1.7) (12.7-13.0) (10.1-10.4) (1.1-1.4)
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Address for correspondence: Probir K. Bandyopadhyay. Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani - 741235. West Bengal, India. E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]
Editorial responsibility: Andrew Dobrovolsky
