A New Host for (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Eastern Hognose Snake, (Ophidia: Colubroidea: Dipsadinae), from Arkansas, U.S.A., with a Summary of Hosts of This Coccidian
Between May 2012 and July 2013, four eastern hognose snakes () were collected from Arkansas ( = 2) and Oklahoma ( = 2), U.S.A., and examined for coccidians. A single from Arkansas was found to be passing oocysts of Anderson, Duszynski, and Marquardt. Oocysts of were spheroidal to slightly subspheroidal with a rough, colourless, bi-layered wall, measure 23.5 × 22.8 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.0; both micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent, but a prominent polar granule was present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 16.8 × 12.8 µm, L/W 1.3; a prominent Stieda and subStieda body was present; a sporocyst residuum was present and composed of numerous spheroidal granules dispersed into small and large granules. Sporozoites lie lengthwise and parallel in a semi-spiral in sporocyst; a spheroidal anterior refractile and posterior refractile body is present; a single nucleus is located between the 2 refractile bodies. This represents the first report of a caryosporan reported from as well as the only known coccidian from this host. A summary of hosts of is provided.
A New Species of (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Green Frog, (Anura: Ranidae) from Arkansas, U.S.A
Between April and October 2012, 20 juvenile and adult green frogs () were collected by hand or dipnet from 3 counties of Arkansas and examined for coccidial parasites. A single frog (5%) was found to be passing oocysts of a new eimerian species. Oocysts of n. sp. were ellipsoidal to subspheroidal with a bilayered wall and measured (L × W) 25.4 × 15.6 (23-27 × 13-17) µm, with a L/W ratio of 1.6. A micropyle was absent but an oocyst residuum and polar granule were present. Sporocysts were spheroidal to subspheroidal and measured 5.0 × 5.0 (4-6) µm with L/W of 1.1. An indistinct Stieda body was present, but sub-and para-Stieda bodies were absent. The sporocyst residuum consisted of condensed granules dispersed between sporozoites. Sporozoites were elongate and attenuated at both ends with spheroidal anterior and posterior refractile bodies. This represents the second report of coccidia from and the first time a coccidian has been reported from a green frog from Arkansas.
