Two new species of coccidia, Eimeria leucuri and E. oreoecetes (Protozoa: Eimeriidae), in grouse from Colorado.

Eimeria leucuri is described from white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus), and E. oreoecetes from white-tailed ptarmigan and blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) from Colorado. Oocysts of E. leucuri are ellipsoidal, 26.6 by 17.7 micron, each bearing a micropyle, micropyle cap, up to 4 polar granules, but no oocyst residuum. The lemon-shaped sporocysts are 15.4 by 6.7 micron, and have Stieda bodies and large amounts of sporocyst residuum. The sporocyst contents are enclosed in a membrane. Oocysts of E. oreoecetes are subspherical, 26.0 by 22.6 micron, and have up to 4 polar granules. The lemon-shaped sporocysts are 14.6 by 8.8 micron, and have both Stieda bodies and substiedal bodies and a large amount of sporocyst residuum. The sporocyst contents are enclosed in a membrane. These are the first coccidia to be described from these tetraonids.

Two species of Entamoeba from white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, from Georgia.

Large numbers of 2 species of Entamoeba, Entamoeba coli and Entamoeba bovis, were recovered from captive white-tailed deer from Georgia. The trophozoite of the first ameba was a large form with a well-defined vesicular nucleus bearing a prominent eccentric endosome, abundant peripheral chromatin, and numerous periendosomal granules. Cytoplasmic vacuoles containing bacteria and other substances were common. Mature cysts were octonucleate. Glycogen vacuoles and irregularly shaped chromatoids were frequently present. This ameba was identified as Entamoeba coli. The trophozoite of the second ameba was small, with a typical Entamoeba nucleus. Cysts were uninucleate, containing numerous chromatoids resembling bars, splinters of wood, and irregular masses. There was occasionally a glycogen vacuole. This ameba was identified as Entamoeba bovis.

Hematozoa in sage grouse from colorado.

Blood films from 361 sage grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ) from North Park, Colorado, were examined for hematozoa. Parasites found were: Plasmodium pedioecetii , Haemoproteus canachites , Leucocytozoon bonasae , Trypanosoma avium , and microfilariae. The sage grouse represents a new host record for Plasmodium . Prevalence of parasitism was not age or sex related, with no significant (P > 0.05) differences between age or sex class. Parasite burdens increased significantly (P < 0.05) from January through May. As these burdens rose prior to the emergence of potential vectors, probably it was a true relapse associated with the resumption of the hosts' sexual activity.

ATTEMPTS AT INFECTING RINGED TURTLE DOVES WITH VIRULENT Trichomonas gallinae.

Twenty Trichomonas -free ringed turtle doves ( Streptopelia risoria ) were inoculated per os with the highly virulent Jones' Barn strain of Trichomonas gallinae . None became infected. Three F1 females housed together were similarly inoculated with this strain and remained Trichomonas -positive for upwards of 182 days. They showed no disease and eventually lost their infections. These three positive females "mated" and laid several six-egg sets in a communal nest. At successive nestings they were given: 1) a fertile domestic pigeon ( Columba livia ) egg, and 2) two fertile ringed dove eggs, all of which hatched. The pigeon squab died of trichomoniasis on day four; the doves survived to maturity. When trichomonads from these doves were placed in Trichomonas -free domestic pigeons the latter all died of T. gallinae trichomoniasis on postinoculation day 8.1 (average).

Malaria in a captively-produced F1 gyrfalcon and in two F. peregrine falcons.

One Falco rusticolus and two of 24 Falco peregrinus were positive for Plasmodium relictum. Sixteen percent of the erythrocytes (RBC) of the gyrfalcon were parasitized. Following treatment with chloroquine the parasite burden was dramatically reduced (to less than 0.01%). Infection in peregrine falcons was low (0.01-0.4% RBCs were parasitized). This is the second report of Plasmodium in the gyrfalcon and the first report in the peregrine falcon.

Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) pedioecetii from gallinaceous birds of Colorado.

Forty-nine Colorado birds of 6 galliform species were positive for Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) pedioecetii which we feel to be the same parasite described by Wetmore (1939) from a shaptailed grouse from North Dakota. Except for its presence in Darwin's tinamou (Nothura darwinii) from Colorado, it has been reported only from gallinaceous birds. Most stages were predominantly subpolar to polar. There were a daily 8 am to noon peak of merozoite production, but no synchronicity. Merozoite number ranged from 8 to 22, with a mean of 10.9. Gametocytes were long and slender, some curving around one end of the host nucleus.

Effect of virulent Trichomonas gallinae on the band-tailed pigeon.

Nine Trichomonas-free band-tailed pigeons (Columba fasciata fasciata) trapped in Colorado died from experimental infection with Jones' Barn Trichomonas gallinae 7.1 days (av.) post-inoculation. Three experimentally infected domestic pigeons (C. livia) used as controls died 5.7 days (av.) post-inoculation. Three band-tailed pigeons from Colorado naturally infected with avirulent T. gallinae. Trichomonads obtained from a fatal case of trichomoniasis in a band-tailed pigeon from California killed a band-tailed pigeon from Colorado; they did not kill five domestic pigeons but did induce severe oral caseation.