EIMERIAN INFECTION IN THE GUT OF THE TUBE-NOSED GOBY PROTERORHINUS-MARMORATUS (PALLAS) OF THE RIVER DANUBE

A mixed infection with two Eimeria species, E. credintsi Moshu, 1992 a nd E. marmorata n. sp., was found in the gut of the tube-nosed goby of the River Danube basin. Sporulated oocysts of E. credintsi and unspor ulated and semisporulated oocysts of E. mammorata were found freely in the gut lumen. Sporocysts off. credintsi open at the cap-like end, re leasing sporozoites through a funnel-shaped opening. Sporocysts off, m arzorata open at the tapered end, forming a fissure alongside the sutu re reaching up to half the length of the sporocysts. In histological p reparations, both species were found in the intestinal epithelium. Mer ogonic and sporogonic stages off. credintsi and gamogonic and sporogon ic stages of E. mamzorata were detected in the epithelium of the anter ior part of the gut.