Eimeria tamimi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis jayakari) in central Saudi Arabia.

Faecal samples from the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis jayakari Thomas) were collected from the Ibex Reserve in central Saudi Arabia. Eimerian oocysts, which are believed to represent a new species described here as Eimeria tamimi sp. n., were detected in 40 out of 93 samples. Oocysts were fully sporulated in 24-48 hours at 25 ± 2 °C. Sporulated oocysts of E. tamimi sp. n. were ovoid, measuring 35-42 × 19-25 µm (39 × 23 µm), a length/width ratio 1.5-2 (1.7). Oocyst wall was bilayered and measured 1.5 µm in thickness. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granules were not present. Sporocysts are elongate, measuring 12-18 × 9-12 µm (15 × 10 µm), with a length/width ratio 1.1-1.8 (1.5) prominent Stieda bodies and sporocyst residuum. Experimental infection of two clinically healthy rock hyraxes with sporulated oocysts of E. tamimi sp. n. resulted in shedding unsporulated oocysts 5-10 days post infection. Partial sequences of 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rDNA) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (COI) regions were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods revealed that E. tamimi sp. n. grouped with Eimeria quokka Barker, O'Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988, E. mundayi Barker, O´Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988, E. potoroi Barker, O'Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988 and E. gaimardi Barker, O'Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988 marsupials. Eimerian species have been regarded as a paraphyletic group and the present investigation confirmed the conflict between phenotypic traits, used widely in the classification of this group of parasites.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Leishmania major in stray dogs in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia.

Dogs can act as a reservoir of canine leishmaniasis disease, which is caused by Leishmania species. The study aimed to identify and document the genotype of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the stray dogs in Riyadh Province using kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) as a target gene by using nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). This cross-sectional investigation was conducted over the course of two years, from March 2016 to July 2018, in different districts of Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. A total of 237 dogs were examined, only 18 of the dogs were suspected clinically of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to the presence of cutaneous nodules and cutaneous lesion. Biopsy tissue collections were performed and DNA was extracted. CSB2XF and CSB1XR primers were used to amplify the Leishmania kDNA regions. The Leishmania species were detected by specific 13Z and LIR primers by applying nested PCR assay. Nine dogs were found to be positive for Leishmania major. The examined dogs were negative for other Leishmania spp. The phylogenetic analysis and blast results of kDNA showed that the 9 isolates L. major is closely related (99.9%) to the L. major isolate CMG_irfan5, accession number HQ727556.1 from human, Pakistan. This is the first molecular study on dog leishmaniasis from Saudi Arabia confirmed that dogs have a L. major infection. Further epidemiological and molecular investigations are required to study domestic and wild canine infections with L. major and other Leishmania spp in endemic and nonendemic areas of Saudi Arabia as part of leishmaniasis control.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Leishmania major in stray dogs in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia

@#Dogs can act as a reservoir of canine leishmaniasis disease, which is caused by Leishmania species. The study aimed to identify and document the genotype of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the stray dogs in Riyadh Province using kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) as a target gene by using nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). This cross-sectional investigation was conducted over the course of two years, from March 2016 to July 2018, in different districts of Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. A total of 237 dogs were examined, only 18 of the dogs were suspected clinically of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to the presence of cutaneous nodules and cutaneous lesion. Biopsy tissue collections were performed and DNA was extracted. CSB2XF and CSB1XR primers were used to amplify the Leishmania kDNA regions. The Leishmania species were detected by specific 13Z and LIR primers by applying nested PCR assay. Nine dogs were found to be positive for Leishmania major. The examined dogs were negative for other Leishmania spp. The phylogenetic analysis and blast results of kDNA showed that the 9 isolates L. major is closely related (99.9%) to the L. major isolate CMG_irfan5, accession number HQ727556.1 from human, Pakistan. This is the first molecular study on dog leishmaniasis from Saudi Arabia confirmed that dogs have a L. major infection. Further epidemiological and molecular investigations are required to study domestic and wild canine infections with L. major and other Leishmania spp in endemic and nonendemic areas of Saudi Arabia as part of leishmaniasis control

Caryospora cherrughi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) infecting Falco cherrug in Saudi Arabia.

The oocysts of Caryospora cherrughi sp. n. were described from the feces of the saker falcon, Falco cherrug, collected from the falcon market in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of infection was 21.4 % (15/70). The majority of the oocysts examined had completed sporulation within 64-84 h at 24 ± 2 °C. Sporulated oocysts are ovoid in shape, measuring 32.1 × 29.3 (30.7-34.5 × 27.7-29.8) µm; shape index (L/W) is 1.1 (1.04-1.27) µm. The oocyst wall is smooth and bilayered. Micropyle, polar granule, and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, measuring 24.1 × 19.6 (23.0-25.5 × 18.7-20.5) µm; with a smooth single-layered wall, but there is no Stieda body. The sporocyst residuum is present as numerous small granules. Sporozoites are banana-shaped, blunt at one end, and slightly tapered at the other, each with a large single refractile body. C. cherrughi sp. n. is the third caryosporian species described from F. cherrug.

Seroprevalence study on Theileria equi and Babesia caballi antibodies in horses from central province of Saudi Arabia.

In total, 241 sera from clinically healthy adult horses were collected from 6 locations in Saudi Arabia and examined for Theileria equi and Babesia caballi antibodies by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Antibodies to Theileria equi were detected in 25 horses (10.4%) while the antibodies to Babesia caballi were observed in 18 horses (7.5%). In addition, 7 serum samples were positive for antibodies to both parasites (3%). The horses sampled in Al-Janadriah had the highest prevalence of infection with T. equi at 16.5% and with B. caballi at 8.8%, while the lowest prevalence of infection with T. equi (4.7%) and B. caballi (3.1%) was observed among horses examined from the Dyrab district. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) in seroprevalence were not observed between these districts. This study represents the first report on the status of T. equi and B. caballi infection in the central province of Saudi Arabia.

Eimeria biarmicus sp.n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) infecting falcons from the genus Falco in Saudi Arabia.

The oocysts of Eimeria biarmicus sp. n. were described from the feces of the lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus, collected from the falcon market in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of infection was 5% (2/40). The majority of the oocysts examined had completed sporulation within 84 h at 24 ± 2°C. Sporulated oocysts are ovoid in shape, measuring 22.4 × 17.9 (20.5-24.7 × 15.8-18.5) µm; shape index (L/W) is 1.25 (1.14-1.36) µm. The oocyst wall is smooth and bi-layered. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. A polar granule is present, consisting of 2-4 globules. Sporocysts are ovoid, 10.1 × 6.1 (9.4-11.2 × 5.4-6.8) µm; with a smooth single-layered wall and a minute Stieda body, but there is no substieda body. The sporocyst residuum consists of numerous small granules. Sporozoites are comma shaped, each contains two refractile bodies. E. biarmicus sp. n. is the second eimerian species described from F. biarmicus.

Caryospora biarmicusis sp.n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) infecting falcons from the genus Falco in Saudi Arabia.

The oocysts of Caryospora biarmicusis sp.n. is described from the feces of the lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus, from the falcon market in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Sporulated oocysts are ovoid in shape, measuring 40.2 x 34.7 (37.5-42.4 x 32.9-35.7) microm; shape index (L/W) is 1.16 (1.08-1.31) microm. The oocyst wall is smooth and bi-layered. Micropyle and polar granule are absent, but an oocyst residuum is present. Sporocysts are spheroid, 20.1 (18.6-21.3) microm; with a smooth single-layered wall, lacking Stieda body. Sporocyst residuum is present as numerous small granules. Sporozoites are stout with a large single refractile body.

Eimeria auratae n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) infecting the lizard Mabuya aurata in Saudi Arabia.

Eimeria auratae n. sp. was described from the gall bladder of the lizard Mabuya aurata collected at Al-Hofuf village, eastern region, Saudi Arabia. Morphology of sporulated as well as non-sporulated oocysts were studied. Sporulated oocysts were ellipsoidal 22-31.5x13.5-21.8 (27.7x18.5) microm with smooth brownish-yellow bilayered wall, 1.1 (0.9-1.3) microm. Micropyle, polar granule and oocyst residuum were absent. Sporocysts were ellipsoidal 10.5-12.8x7.5-9 (11.8x8.5) microm. Sporocyst residuum was present but Stieda body was absent. Sporozoites were crescent-shaped, blunt at one end and slightly tapered at the other. Eimeria species from Scincidae were compared.

Eimeria pipistrellus n. sp. from Pipistrellus kuhlii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Saudi Arabia.

Fecal samples from 12 Pipistrellus kuhlii captured at Shagrah, Saudi Arabia, were examined for coccidia and three (25%) found to harbor a undescribed eimerian, herein described as Eimeria pipistrellus n. sp. Sporulated oocysts were subspherical, 24.8 x 23.2 (22-27 x 20-25) microns, with a bilayered and smooth wall. The micropyle was absent, but a large oocyst residuum and a single polar granule were present. Sporocysts were ovoid, 11.6 x 8.3 (10.5-13 x 7.5-9) microns, with a prominent Stieda body, but without a substiedal body; sporozoites lay head to tail in sporocysts and contained one large posterior refractile body. Eimeria pipistrellus n. sp. is the 3rd species of the genus Eimeria found from bats of the genus Pipistrellus.

Eimeria chiropteri n.sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Saudi Arabian bat Pipistrellus kuhlii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae).

Oocysts of Eimeria chiropteri n.sp. are described from faeces of Pipistrellus kuhlii from Saudi Arabia. The sporulated oocyst of E. chiropteri is broadly ellipsoidal 23.5 x 20.6 (18.8 - 25.9 x 16.5 - 25.2) microm, and bilayered wall 1.2 (1.1 - 1.3) microm thick. Micropyle is absent, but a single, spherical polar body present. Oocyst residuum is present as a coarse granular sphere. Sporocyst is ovoid 10.8 x 7.5 (10.1 - 11.7 x 6.8 - 8.1). Stieda body is present, but sub and parastieda bodies are absent. Sporozoites are elongated laying head to tail in the sporocyst each with a large spherical refractile globule. E. chiropteri is the 4th species from the genus Eimeria detected in bats of the genus Pipistrellus.

Coccidia of the domestic goat (Capra hircus) in Saudi Arabia.

Faeces of 228 domestic goats (Capra hircus) from the central region of Saudi Arabia were examined for the presence of coccidian oocysts. Ten species of coccidia were identified and described. A total of 90.3% of the specimens were positive, most of them contained 100-1000 oocysts per g of faecal sample. Kids less than 1 year old had higher oocyst counts than goatlings or adult goats. Mixed infections with three to five species were found in 69.7% of the specimens and six to eight species were found in 10.1%. Eimeria arloingi and E. hirci were most prevalent. E. alijevi, E. ninakohlyakimovae, E. caprina, E. christenseni and E. apsheronica were less common. E. jolchijevi, E. caprovina and E. punctata were relatively rare.

Redescription of Eimeria gazella Musaev, 1970 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Arabian gazelle, Gazella gazella arabica (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Saudi Arabia.

Eimeria gazella Musaev, 1970 is redescribed for the first time from the feces of 3 of 6 Arabian gazelles, Gazella gazella arabica from the Riyadh Zoo in Saudi Arabia. Oocyst measurements were similar to those reported previously from the goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa, in Kazakhstan (USSR). Except for our observation of many small polar granules, and Stieda body, oocyst morphology was identical to the original description of E. gazella.

A study on cholesterol content in some tissues of the Saudi frog: Rana ridibunda.

1. Cholesterol content of selected tissues in the Saudi frog Rana ridibunda was determined. 2. Total cholesterol content was higher in tissues involved in water loss, ranging from 12.22 +/- 0.28 to 40.3 +/- 0.79 mg/g. 3. In tissues not involved in water loss, total cholesterol content ranged from 2.42 +/- 0.18 to 19.30 +/- 0.39 mg/g.