Six new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa : Eimeriidae) from East African chameleons (Sauria : Chamaeleonidae)

Coprological examination of 83 East African chameleon specimens revealed 32 .5% prevalence of coccidian parasites. Six species are described as new: Ei meria tilburyi n. sp. from Chamaeleo jacksonii has cylindrical oocysts, 28. 9 (26-33) x 16.0 (14-18) mu m and occasionally a small polar granule. Sporo cysts are oval to ellipsoidal, 10.6 (9-12) x 7.2 (6-8) mu m, without Stieda and substieda bodies; endogenous stages were found in the gall bladder. Oo cysts of Eimeria largeni n. sp, from Chamaeleo gracilis are broadly cylindr ical, 31.2 (29.5-34) x 19.3 (18.5-20) mu m, with 1-3 polar granules. Sporoc ysts are oval, 10.2 (10-11) x 7.6 (7-8.5) mu m, without Stieda and substied a bodies. Eimeria bohemii n. sp. from Chamaeleo melleri has cylindrical ooc ysts, 25.0 (23-26) x 14.0 (13-15) mu m, without a polar granule. Sporocysts are broadly oval, 9.4 (9-10) x 6.5 (6-7) mu m, without Stieda and substied a bodies. Isospora wildi n. sp. from Chamaeleo dilepis has subspherical to broadly oval oocysts, 25 (22-28) x 21.4 (18-24) mu m. with a smooth wall 1 mu m thick. Sporocysts are broadly oval to ellipsoidal, 12.3 (12-13) x 9.7 (9-10) mu m, with Stieda and substieda bodies. Oocysts of Isospora necasi n . sp. from C. melleri are subspherical to broadly oval, 26.6 (21-30) x 24.3 (20-27) mu m, with a velvetlike wall 2 mu m thick. Sporocysts are broadly ellipsoidal, 12.8 (12-14) x 9.8 (9-10) mu m, with slightly pointed end and with Stieda and substieda bodies. Oocysts of Isospora muriyu n. sp. from C. jacksonii are spherical to subspherical, 23.6 (21.5-25) x 21.9 (21-23) mu m, with a finely granulated wail 1.5 mu m thick. Sporocysts are broadly ell ipsoidal, 12.4 (12-13) x 8.7 (8-10) mu m, with Stieda and substieda bodies.