Two Eimeria Species Isolated from Wild Japanese Rock Ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) in Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Fecal samples were collected from 64 Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) at 13 locations in the alpine zone of Japan and examined for internal parasites. We found 2 morphologically different types of eimerian oocysts. Based on morphological characteristics, one was identified as Eimeria uekii, which had already been found from Japanese rock ptarmigans in 1981, and the other was likely a new type of Eimeria. The new type of eimerian oocysts required a longer sporulation time than E. uekii. The prevalence of both eimerian oocysts in Japanese rock ptarmigans was 62.5%, while that of E. uekii was 60.9% and the new type 29.7%. Mixed infection of both types was found in 28.1%.

Geographical Distribution and Seasonality of the Prevalence of Leucocytozoon lovati in Japanese Rock Ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) found in the Alpine Regions of Japan

“…Environmental deterioration and/or climate changes because of global warming in the alpine zones, which are the unique habitats of the rock ptarmigan, is generally suspected to be the main cause of the declining population of the species. On the other hand, few studies have investigated the influence of etiologic agents on the population of the species [10,12,14]. Therefore, we surveyed the geographical distribution and seasonality of the prevalence of L. lovati in wild Japanese rock ptarmigans in order to identify and analyze the causes of the decrease in their population.…”

Two new Eimeria species (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from wild rock ptarmigans, Lagopus muta islandorum, in Iceland

“…Furthermore, E. lagopodi sporocysts are spherical (∼12). This sporocyst form also distinguishes the species from all the remaining rock ptarmigan eimeriids that have elongate (pyriform, lemonshaped, elongate-ovoid, fusiform, or spindle-formed) sporocysts (Galli-Valerio 1929;Ishihara et al 2006;Kamimura and Kodama 1981;Levine 1953;Pellérdy 1974). In the case of E. muta, the M was usually more visible on unsporulated than sporulated oocysts.…”

“…Remarks The subspherical oocysts of E. rjupa resemble Eimeria Type B (Ishihara et al 2006). Both coccidians have the same L/W ratio (1.1).…”

“…After examination, measurements and photomicrographs of the oocysts we found were compared to the five Eimeria species already described from L. muta (Galli-Valerio 1929;Ishihara et al 2006;Kamimura and Kodama 1981;Levine 1953;Pellérdy 1974), as well as to dozens of Eimeria species described from other bird species in the family Phasianidae (Gassal 2003;Hospes 1996;Levine 1961;Pellérdy 1974;Rommel 2000;Smith et al 2003;Stabler et al 1979;Todd and Hammond 1971). These comparisons convinced us that both of the forms we saw were new species, which we describe below.…”

“…Also, sporocysts of the latter two species lack a SR that is prominent in E. muta and E. uekii. Various morphological characters distinguish E. muta and E. uekii: the wall thickness (1.0 and 0.6, respectively); the number of wall layers (2 layers vs 1, respectively); the wall color (bicolored outer wall and a dark inner wall in E. muta, yellowish in E. uekii); relatively larger oocyst and sporocyst sizes in E. muta than in E. uekii; different sporocyst L×W ratios (2.3 in E. muta, 1.8-2.0 in E. uekii); different RB numbers [1 in E. muta, 1-2 (Ishihara et al 2006) or 2 (Kamimura and Kodama 1981) in E. uekii]. The remaining eimeriids that have been described from rock ptarmigans can easily be distinguished from E. muta on their oocyst shape (subspherical in E. rjupa and Eimeria Type B, ovoidal to ellipsoidal in E. lagopodi).…”