Eimeria schmidti N. SP. [apicomplexa: Eimeriidae] from the sandy fringe-toed lizard [acanthodactylus Schmidt] in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Eimeria schmidti n.sp. was described from the gallbladder of Acanthodactylus schmidti from Al-Thomama area in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Sporulated oocysts are ellipsoid 31.2 x 23.3 [26.9 - 36.4 x 21.2 - 26]. Oocyst wall is smooth, greenish yellow, 1.31 [1.16 - 1.41] um thick and 2-layered. Micropyle, polar granule and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid 12.6 x 9.3 [10.9 - 14.1 x 7.6 - 10] um. Sporocysts residuum is present. The sporocysts lack a stieda body. Sporozoites are banana-shaped blunt at one end and tapered at the second end. Eimeria species from Lacertidae were compared