Eimeria curvata n. sp (Apicomplexa : Eimeriidae) in Columbina talpacoti and Scardafella squammata (Aves : Columbidae) from Brazil

Eimeria curvata is a new coccidian described in the cloves Columbina talpac oti and Scardafella squammata from western of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazi l. The oocysts are ovoid to ellipsoid, 18.3 (17-19) mu m x 15.5 (15-17) mu m, with a shape index of 12.2 (1.1-1.3). The Fi all is colorless, smooth an d double-layer cd. A polar granule is present, but there is no micropyle or oocyst residuum. The sporocysts are elongate, 12.3 (11.5-13) mu m x 5.8 (5 .5-6) mu m with a curved anterior portion and a smooth, thin, single-layere d wall. The Stieda body is protuberant and nipple-like; there is no substie da body. The sporozoites lie head-to-tail in the sporocyst and contain a la rge refractile body at the extremities. The sporocyst residuum contains sma ll granules uniformly distributed in the middle of the sporocyst. The preva lence of E. curvata n. sp. was 17.4% and 12.8% in C. talpacoti and S. squam mata, respectively.