EIMERIA-STERNFELDI N-SP (APICOMPLEXA, EIMERIIDAE) FROM THE AUSTRALIANBLUE-TONGUED SKINK, TILIQUA-MULTIFASCIATA (SAURIA, SCINCIDAE)

Fecal samples from 3 captive Australian blue-tongued skinks, Tiliqua m ultifasciata Sternfeld, 1919, from the Dallas Zoo, were examined for c occidian parasites. Two of the skinks were found to be passing oocysts of an undescribed eimerian, which we describe here as new. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria sternfeldi n. sp. were spherical to subspherical, 16.6 x 15.9 (14.6-18.4 x 14.5-18.4) mum, with a shape index (length/wi dth) of 1.1 (1.0-1.1). A micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent but 2 (1-4) polar granules were present. Sporocysts were ellipsoidal, 7.9 x 6.9 (6.6-9.4 x 6.4-7.4) mum, with a shape index of 1.1 (1.0-1.3). A sporocyst residuum was present, but Stieda, substieda, and parastieda bodies were absent. Sporozoites were elongate, 10.1 x 1.9 (8.8-11.2 x 1.6-2.0) mum in situ, containing an ellipsoidal posterior refractile body. This is the first report of a coccidian from a member of the gen us Tiliqua.