Eimeria gasperettii N. sP. [Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae] from the horned viper, Cerates cerastes gasperettii in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Eimeria gasperettii n. sp. was collected from the gall bladder of the horned viper, Cerastes cerastes gasperettii from Al-Thumamah, Central Region of Saudi Arabia. Sporulated oocysts are ellipsoid in shape, measuring 38.8 x 25.5 [29-41 x 17.2-28.4] mum with smooth brownish- yellow bilayered wall, 1.7 [1.5-2.0] mum thick. Micropyle polar granule and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid reaching 13.8 x 9.6 [11-14.5 x 8.0-10.3] mum. Sporocyst residuum is present. The sporocyst lacks a Stieda body. Sporozoites are crescent-shaped blunt at one end and slightly tapered at the other. Eimeria species from Viperidae were compared