Six new Eimeria species from vespertilionid bats of North America

Twenty species of bats (Molossidae, Vespertilionidae) were collected from C alifornia, New Mexico,Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, and Baja California Nor te (Mexico), and 29 of 404 (7%) animals, including Antrozous pallidus, Epte sicus fuscus, Myotis auriculus, Myotis californicus, Myotis ciliolabrum, My otis evotis, Myotis lucifugus, Myotis thysanodes, Myotis vivesi, Myotis vol ans, Myotis yumanensis, and Nycticeius humeralis were infected with Eimeria spp:, which represent 6 new species. Sporulated oocysts of a new species f rom A. pallidus are subspheroidal, 24.8 X 21.6 (22-27 X 19-24) mu m with a polar granule and a large globular residuum. The oocyst wall is sculptured, with 2 layers, similar to 1.5 thick. Ovoidal sporocysts are 11.5 X 7.8 (9- 13 X 7-10) mu m, with Stieda body and residuum of many large granules. Spor ulated oocysts of a new species from M. californicus are subspheroidal, 20. 7 x 18.2 (19-23 X 16-20) mu m, with 1-7 tiny polar granules, but without oo cyst residuum. The oocyst wall is rough, with 2 layers, similar to 1.4 thic k. Ovoidal sporocysts are 11.2 X 7.3 (10-12 X 7-8) mu m, with Stieda body a nd a globular residuum. Sporulated oocysts of a second new species from M. californicus are subspheroidal, 23.1 x 20.7 (20-26 X 19-23) mu m, with resi duum and 1 polar granule, but a micropyle is absent. The oocyst wall is rou gh with 2 layers, similar to 1.5 thick. Ovoidal sporocysts are 12.5 x 7.2 ( 11-14 x 7-8) mu m, with a Stieda body and residuum. Sporulated oocysts of a new species from M. ciliolabrum are subspheroidal, 24.9 X 20.1 (18-27 X 17 -23) mu m, with 1-2 polar granules, but without micropyle and residuum. The oocyst wall is rough with 2 layers, similar to 1.5 thick. Ellipsoidal spor ocysts are 12.5 X 9.0 (8-14 X 7-10) mu m, with Stieda and substieda bodies and residuum. Sporulated oocysts of a new species from M. evotis are subsph eroidal, 21.3 X 18.6(20-24 X 15-20) mu m, with a prominent polar granule, b ut without micropyle and residuum. The oocyst wall is smooth with 2 layers, similar to 1.0 thick. Ovoidal sporocysts are 12.2 X 8.0 (11-13 X 7.5-9) mu m, with Stieda and substieda bodies and residuum. Sporulated oocysts of th e new species from N. humeralis are subspheroidal, 22.4 X 18 (21-24 X 17-20 ) mu m, with 1-3 polar granules, but residuum and micropyle are absent. The oocyst wall is lightly sculptured with 2 layers, similar to 1.4 thick. Ovo idal sporocysts are 10.9 X 7.7 (9-12 x 6-8) mu m, with Stieda body and resi duum. Sporulated oocysts off. pilarensis Scott and Duszynski, 1997 and thos e of at least 12 other morphological forms were seen in the other infected bats; these latter forms were seen in too few numbers to be adequately desc ribed as new species.