The oocysts of the coccidia are robust structures, frequently isolated from the feces or urine of their hosts, which provide resistance to mechanical damage and allow the parasites to survive and remain infective for prolonged periods. The diagnosis of coccidiosis, species description and systematics, are all dependent upon characterization of the oocyst. Therefore, this review aimed to the provide a critical overview of the methodologies, advantages and limitations of the currently available morphological, morphometrical and molecular biology based approaches that may be utilized for characterization of these important structures. It has become apparent that no single methodology is sufficient to fully characterize these structures and the majority of researchers favor the use of combinational or polyphasic approaches.

In the New World, the avian order Passeriformes comprises 47 families and 2,453 species, yet to date only 21 (45%) of the families and 58 (2%) of the species have been examined for coccidia, and from these only two species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 and 81 species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 have been described. This review contributes to our understanding of the morphology and systematics of coccidian parasites of passeriforms, providing a scientific basis for the identification of sporulated oöcysts recovered from the faeces of passerine birds from North, Central and South America. To this end, the coccidia were organised and grouped according to the family of the host, following the widely recognised concept of family-specificity and the updated systematics of the class Aves. Details of 83 eimeriid species are presented along with an illustration and tabulated data.

In the present study the tick prevalence, mean intensity of infestation and species were recorded on birds captured between January 2009 and December 2010 in the Ecological Station Pirapitinga-ESEC from Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A total of 967 birds, from 15 families and 40 species were captured and 165 (17.1 %) individuals were parasitized by ticks. Of these 160 (97 %) belonged to the order Passeriformes. Five tick species were identified: Amblyomma longirostre (n = 274) was the most common species followed by Amblyomma parvum (n = 43), Amblyomma nodosum (n = 39), Amblyomma ovale (n = 24) and Riphicephalus sanguineus (n = 7). None of 61 unengorged larvae molted to nymph. The mean intensity of infestation was 2.7 ± 2.4 ticks per bird (448 ticks/165 birds) ranging from 1 to 10. Only 19 (11.4 %) birds were infested with one species of tick. The remaining birds were infested by two, three or four species of ticks. Also new hosts for all five ticks were recorded. Only nymphs were recorded throughout the year with two similar peaks during autumn and winter 2009 and 2010.

RESUMO.-[Eimeria spp. de codornas japonesas (Coturnix japonica): novas características e ferramentas de diagnóstico.] A codorna japonesa Coturnix japonica originária do norte da África, Europa e Ásia, é utilizada mundialmente como um animal experimental e modelo para avicultura. O presente trabalho caracteriza Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai e Eimeria uzura recuperadas de C. japonica. Baseado no fato de que as codornas têm uma distribuição global, como são os seus coccídios, os resultados deste estudo devem propiciar o diagnóstico destas Eimeria spp. em outras regiões e continentes. Eimeria bateri demonstrou a maior intensidade de infecção e eliminaram oocistos a partir do quarto dia após infecção, em contraste E. tsunodai e E. uzura eliminaram oocistos a partir do quinto dia após infecção. As três espécies foram morfometricamente semelhantes e polimórficas. No entanto, a aplicação da regressão linear, histogramas e ANOVA proveram meios para a identificação destas espécies. Finalmente, o algoritmo foi totalmente eficiente uma vez que valores resultantes não foram sobrepostos. TERMOS DE INDEXAÇÃO: Coccidiose, diagnóstico, Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai, Eimeria uzura. INTRODUCTIONThe breeding of Japanese quails Coturnix japonica has excelled in aviculture, due to increased consumption of exotic meats and eggs, and represents an alternative to chicken production. In the USA, Japanese quails were introduced in the 1950s, and at that time the breeding of Japanese quails was already widespread in European countries. In Brazil, Japanese quails were introduced in the 1950s, but large scale production began in the mid 1960's (Howes 1964, Murakami & Ariki 1998, IUCN 2013, Jatoi et al. 2013.In addition to its importance for aviculture, the Japanese quail has become, in recent decades, an important experimental animal for scientific research. It is used extensively in studies examining genetics, nutrition, toxicology, em- The Japanese quail Coturnix japonica originated from North Africa, Europe and Asia, is used worldwide as an experimental animal and model for aviculture. The current paper characterizes Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai and Eimeria uzura recovered from C. japonica. Based on the fact that quails have a global distribution, as are their coccidia, the findings of this study should provide the means for diagnosis of those Eimeria spp. in other regions and continents. Eimeria bateri showed the greatest intensity of infection and shed oocysts from the fourth day after infection; in contrast, E. tsunodai and E. uzura shed oocysts from the fifth day after infection. The three species shared a high degree of similarity and were all polymorphic. Yet, the application of line regressions, histograms and ANOVA provided means for the identification of these species. Finally, the algorithm was very efficient since verified that resultant values were not superimposed.

Two new coccidian (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species from the Brazilian tanager Ramphocelus bresilius dorsalis are reported in the current study. Isospora cadimi n. sp. oocysts are spheroidal to sub-spheroidal, 24.2 x 22.9 microm, with a smooth and bi-layered wall, approximately 1.1 microm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are broadly ovoidal, 16.9 x 11.6 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocyst residuum is present and sporozoites have refractile body and nucleus. Isospora navarroi n. sp. oocysts are spheroidal to sub-spheroidal, 21.4 x 20.6 microm, with a smooth and bi-layered wall, approximately 1.1 microm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 16.1 x 10.2 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocyst residuum is present and sporozoites have a robust posterior refractile body.