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.

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 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.

A new coccidian parasite (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the legless lizard Diplometopon zarudnyi (Amphisbaenia: Trogonophidae) in Saudi Arabia.

Large numbers of coccidian oocysts belonging to the genus Isospora were obtained from the intestinal contents of ten legless lizards Diplometopon zarudnyi collected from eastern region, Saudi Arabia. The oocysts are spherical to subspherical, 33.3 x 30.9 (28.6-35.2 x 26.8-32.7) microns with a bilayered wall 1.4 (1.3-1.6) microns thick. Micropyle, polar granule and oocyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are ellipsoid, 20.1 x 13.8 (17.5-22.3 x 12.2-15.4) microns. A sporocyst residuum, stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporozoites are banana shaped, blunt at one end and tapered at the other and containing spherical anterior and posterior refractile bodies of the same size. Since this Isospora sp. does not resemble, any other species of Isospora previously described from lizards of the genus Diplometopon, it has been named Isospora diplometoponi n.sp. after the host generic name.

Eimeria schmidti n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the sandy fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti) in Saudi Arabia.

Eimeria schmidti n.sp. is described from the gall bladder 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 21.2-26.0). Oocyst wall is smooth, greenish yellow, 1.31 (1.16-1.41) um thick and two-layered. Micropyle, polar granule and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid 12.6 x 9.3 (10.9-14.1 x 7.6-10.0) um. Sporocyst 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 are compared.

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.

Eimeria saudiensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Saudi Arabia.

Oocysts of Eimeria saudiensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from the feces of the Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx, from the Riyadh Zoo, Saudi Arabia. The oocysts were ellipsoidal or slightly ovoid, 31.2 x 24.5 (24.3-36.5 x 20.0-27.6) micron with a bilayered wall about 1.7 micron thick. The micropyle was covered by a dome-shaped cap. The oocyst residuum was absent, but tiny polar granules were present. The sporocysts were elongate ovoid, 14.3 x 7.2 (11.5-18.5 x 6.0-9.0) micron, had a Stieda body, but lacked a substiedal body. The sporocyst residuum was present, composed of numerous small granules. The sporozoites were elongate club-shaped, and contained two prominent refractile bodies.

Eimeria sinaitae n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the rock agama (Agama sinaita) in Saudi Arabia.

Eimeria sinaitae n. sp. is described from the gall bladder of Agama sinaita from Wasie, Saudi Arabia. Sporulated oocysts are elongate-ellipsoid 34.4 x 22.0 (29.0-40.0 x 17.4-24.5) micron. Oocyst wall is smooth, greenish yellow, 1.2 (1.0-1.4) micron thick, and two-layered. Micropyle, polar granule, and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid 11.4 x 7.6 (9.8-15.0 x 6.7-9.0) micron. Sporocyst residuum is present. The sporocysts lack a Stieda body. Sporozoites are crescent-shaped, blunt at one end and tapered at the other. Eimeria species from Agamidae are compared.

Coccidia in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) are infected with three species of Eimeria: E. dromedarii (28.4%), E. rajasthani (22.2%), and E. cameli (19.2%); 41.6% of the animals examined were positive. The highest prevalence of infection was reported in the western region of the country. Mixed infection with two Eimeria species is most common; E. dromedarii was most frequently and generally the most predominant species. Eimeria dromedarii and E. rajasthani are described for the first time from Saudi Arabian camels.

Prevalence of Eimeria in faeces of cattle in Saudi Arabia.

The faeces of 205 domestic cattle (Bos taurus) from 5 regions of Saudi Arabia were examined for the presence of coccidian parasites. The following species of Eimeria were recovered: Eimeria auburnensis, E. bovis, E. cylindrica, E. ellipsoidalis, E. subspherica, E. wyomingensis and E. zuerni. A total of 34.1% of the individual faecal samples were positive for the presence of coccidial oocysts. Mixed infections of 2-4 species were found in 15.7% of the specimens. E. zuerni and E. bovis occurred most frequently and were generally the most predominant species. The incidence of coccidia-infected cattle was higher in the eastern region.

Growth of Trichinella spiralis larvae in rats receiving folic-acid-deficient diet.

A study of the effect of growth of Trichinella spiralis in rats fed a folic-acid-deficient diet is described. Trichinella spiralis larvae encysted in the diaphragms of two groups-rats fed a folic acid-deficient diet and rats fed a complete (normal) diet-were examined. In rats fed a folic-acid-deficient diet, the number of the encysted larvae was larger than that in the controls. However, the encysted larvae were substantially longer in the control group of rats fed complete (normal) diets.