The Coccidia of Camelidae
(camels)

Compiled by
Donald W. Duszynski1, Steve J. Upton2, and Lee Couch1

1Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
2Division of Biology, Kansas State University

Supported by NSF-PEET DEB 9521687

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright 1998. Material at this site is intellectual property and is protected by the International Berne Convention Treaty and by copyright laws of the United States of America. Permission hereby is granted by the authors for individuals to make copies of any portion of this work for personal or classroom use, without fee, providing that the information is not distributed for profit or for commerical advantage. Any use of this information for scientific purposes, such as contained in taxonomic review articles, books, book chapters, or monographs, MUST be accompanied by an appropriate credit citing the above authors by name and acknowledging NSF grant PEET DEB 9521687. Any use of this information for profit or other commercial gain must be negotiated with the authors.

Updated: 2 May 1999
Comments: eimeria@unm.edu (Duszynski)
or coccidia@ksu.edu (Upton)


Eimeria alpacae Guerrero, 1967

Hosts: Lama glama (Llama); Lama pacos (Alpaca)
Size: Oocysts 24 (22-26) x 20 (18-21); sporocysts 11 (10- 13) x 7 (7-8)
References: Foreyt & Lagerquist 1992; Guerrero 1967;
Guerrero et al. 1967a, 1967b, 1970b; Rickard & Bishop 1988; Schrey et al. 1991

Eimeria bactriani Levine& Ivens, 1970

Synonym: Eimeria cameli of Noller, 1933
Synonym: Eimeria cameli of Noller, 1932 emended Yakimoff & Matschoulsky, 1939 of Pellerdy, 1965
Synonym: Eimeria cameli of Iwanoff-Gobzem, 1934
Synonym: Eimeria nolleri (?) Reichenow, 1953 of Abdussalam & Rauf, 1957
non Eimeria cameli (Henry & Masson, 1932) Pellerdy, 1956
non Globidium cameli Henry & Masson, 1932
Hosts: Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel); Camelus dromedarius (Dromedary)
Size: Oocysts 32 x 25-27; sporocysts 15-17 x 10
References: Abdussalam & Rauf 1957; Berkinbaev et al. 1987;
Daruish & Golemansky 1993; Gill 1976; Noller 1933; Wei & Wong 1990

Eimeria cameli (Henry & Masson, 1932) Reichenow, 1952

Synonym: Globidium cameli Henry & Masson, 1932 of Enigk, 1934
Synonym: Eimeria (Globodium) cameli (Henry & Masson, 1932) Reichenow, 1952 of Abdussalam & Rauf, 1957
Synonym: Eimeria kazachstanica Tsygankov, 1950
Synonym: Eimeria casahstanica [sic] Tsygankov, 1950 of Pellerdy, 1965
Synonym: Eimeria noelleri (Henry & Masson, 1932) Pellerdy, 1956 of Dubey & Pande, 1964
Synonym: Eimeria iragiensis Mirza, 1970
non Eimeria cameli Noller, 1933 of Iwanoff-Gobzem, 1934 of Yakimoff & Matschoulsky, 1939
non Eimeria cameli Noller, 1933 of Iwanoff-Gobzem, 1934 of Tsygankov, 1950
non Eimeria (?) noelleri Rastegaieff, 1930
Hosts: Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel); Camelus dromedarius (Dromedary)
Size: Oocysts 80-100 x 55-94; sporocysts 30-50 x 15- 20
References: Abdussalam & Rauf 1957; Berkinbaev et al. 1987; Chineme 1980;
Dubey & Pande 1964; Elbihari 1982; Enigk 1934; Gill 1976; Gruvel & Graber 1965a, 1965b;
Henry & Masson 1932a, 1932b, 1932c; Hussein et al. 1987; Ipczynski 1978; Kasim et al. 1985;
Kawasmeh & Elbihari 1983; Mirza 1970; Mirza & Al Rawas 1976; Pellerdy 1965;
Ramachandran Iyer et al. 1968; Tsygankov 1950, 1955; Wei & Wong 1990; Yagoub 1989;
Yakimoff et al. 1936

Eimeria dromedarii Yakimoff & Matschoulsky, 1939

Synonym: Eimeria cameli of Iwanoff-Gobzem, 1934
Synonym: Eimeria cameli Iwanoff-Gobzem of Tsygankov, 1950, 1955
Synonym: Eimeria cameli Iwanoff-Gobzem of Yakimoff, 1934
Hosts: Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel); Camelus dromedarius (Dromedary)
Size: Oocysts 28 (23-33) x 23 (20-25); sporocysts 8-11 x 6-9
References: Abdussalam & Rauf 1957; Berkinbaev et al. 1987; Daruish & Golemansky 1993;
Dubey & Pande 1964; Gill 1976; Hussein et al. 1987; Iwanoff-Gobzem 1934;
Kasim et al. 1985; Mirza & Al-Rawas 1976; Rysavy 1954; Tsygankov 1950, 1955;
Wei & Wong 1990; Yagoub 1989; Yakimoff 1934a; Yakimoff & Matschoulsky 1939a, 1939b

Eimeria lamae Guerrero, 1967

Hosts: Lama glama (Llama); Lama pacos (Alpaca)
Size: Oocysts 36 (30-40) x 25 (21-30); sporocysts 15 (13- 16) x 9 (8-10)
Reference: Guerrero 1967; Guerrero et al., 1967a, 1967b, 1970a, 1970b
Rickard & Bishop 1988; Schrey et al. 1991
Further studies may reveal this to be Eimeria rajasthani

Eimeria macusaniensis Guerrero, Hernandez, Bazalar, & Alva, 1971

Hosts: Lama glama (Llama); Lama guanicoe (Guanaco); Lama pacos (Alpaca)
Size: Oocysts 94 (81-107) x 67 (61-80); sporocysts 36 (33- 40) x 18 (16-20)
References: Guerrero et al. 1967, 1970b, 1971; Jarvinen 1999; Rickard & Bishop 1988
Rosadio & Ameghino 1994; Schrey et al. 1991
Further studies may reveal this to be Eimeria cameli.

Eimeria pellerdyi Prasad, 1960

Synonym: Eimeria pellerdei Prasad, 1960
Host: Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel); Camelus dromedarius (Dromedary)
Size: Oocysts 22-24 x 12-14; sporocysts 9-11 x 4-6
References: Daruish & Golemansky 1993; Gill 1976; Prasad 1960; Wei & Wong 1990

Eimeria peruviana Yakimoff, 1934

Host: Lama glama (Llama)
Size: Oocysts 32 (28-38) x 19 (18-23); sporocysts 11-15 x 8
References: Nukerbaeva 1978; Yakimoff 1934b; Yakimoff et al. 1936

Eimeria punoensis Guerrero, 1967

Hosts: Lama glama (Llama); Lama pacos (Alpaca)
Size: Oocysts 20 (17-22) x 16 (14-18); sporocysts 9 (8-11) x 6 (5-7)
Reference: Foreyt & Lagerquist 1992; Guerrero 1967;
Guerrero et al. 1967a, 1967b, 1970b; Rickard & Bishop 1988

Eimeria rajasthani Dubey & Pande, 1963

Synonym: Eimeria sp. of Ezzat, 1961 (?)
Host: Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel); Camelus dromedarius (Dromedary)
Size: Oocysts 36 (34-39) x 25 (25-27); sporocysts 15 (14- 15) x 11 (8-11)
References: Daruish & Golemansky 1993; Dubey & Pande 1963, 1964;
Ezzat 1961; Gill 1976; Hussein et al. 1987; Kassim et al. 1985; Wei & Wong 1990;
Yagoub 1989

Isospora orlovi Tsygankov, 1950

Host: Unstated camel species
Size: Oocysts 27-35 x 15-20; sporocysts 15-20 x 13- 17
Reference: Tsygankov 1950, 1955
These may represent avian isosporans.

Isospora sp. of Daruish & Golemansky, 1993

Host: Camelus dromedarius (Dromedary)
Size: Oocysts 20-31 x 18-23; sporocysts 11-13 x 8-10
Reference: Daruish & Golemansky 1993
Photographs suggest these to be avian isosporans.

Isospora sp. of Raisinghani, Manohar, & Yadav, 1987

Host: Camelus dromedarius (Dromedary)
Size: Oocysts 30 (25-35) x 18 (17-21); sporocysts 14 (13- 15) x 10 (9-11)
Reference: Raisinghani et al. 1987
These may represent avian isosporans.


Unknown coccidian

Host: Lama guanicoae (Guanaco)
Size: Oocysts 65 (54-76) x 56 (48-65) in tissue sections
Reference: Hodgin et al. 1984
This may represent Eimeria macusaniensis.


References

Abdussalam M. and Rauf, A. 1957. Coccidia of camels. Proceedings of the 9th Pakistan Science Conference, Part 3. 9: 125-126.

Berkinbaev, O., Yaitoorsenov, K.K., and Yesenova, R. 1987. Association of eimerians and strongyles in the intestinal tract of camels. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk Kazakhskoi SSR Seriya Biologicheskaia Nauk (5): 38-42.

Boid, R., Jones, T.W., and Luckins, A.G. 1985. Protozoal diseases of Camels. British Medical Journal 141: 87-105.

Chauve, M., Hamza-Cherif, R., Marfoua, K., Gounel, J.M., Habchi, N., and Bounaceur, A. 1990. Parasitisme chez le dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius) en Algerie: Enquetes dans 4 Wilayats (Adrar - Bechar - Laghouat - Ghardaia). Maghreb Veterinaire 5: 35-39.

Cheney, J.M., and Allen, G.T. 1989. Parasitism in Llamas. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 5: 217-225.

Chineme, C.N. 1980. A case report of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria cameli in a camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Nigeria. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 16: 377-380.

Daruish, A.I. and Golemansky, V.G. 1993. Coccidia (Apicomplexa, Eucoccidiida) in camels (Camelus dromedarius L.) from Syria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 46: 10-15.

Dubey, J.P. and Pande, B.P. 1963. A note on Eimeria rajasthani n. sp. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from the Indian camel (Camelus dromedarius). Current Science 32: 273-274.

Dubey, J.P. and Pande, B.P. 1964. On eimerian oocysts recovered from Indian camel (Camelus dromedarius). Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry 34: 28-34.

Elbihari, S. 1982. Studies on the parasites of the camel in Saudi Arabia. In, Parasites-their world and ours, Proceedings of the 5th International Congress of Parasitology, 7-14 August 1982, Toronto, Canada. Muller, M., Gutteridge, W., and Kohler, P., editors. Elsevier Biomedical Press, Amsterdam. pp. 269.

Enigk, K. 1934. Zur Kenntnis des Globidium cameli und der Eimeria cameli. Archiv fur Protistenkunde 83: 371-380.

Ezzat, A.M.E. 1961. Protozoal diseases of veterinary importance in Egypt. In, Progress in Protozoology, Proceedings of the 1st International Congress on Protozoology 1: 478-481.

Foreyt, W.J. and Lagerquist, J. 1992. Experimental infections of Eimeria alpacae and Eimeria punoensis in Llamas (Lama lama). Journal of Parasitology 78: 906-909.

Gruvel, J. and Graber, M. 1965a.. Quelques resultats d'unquetes recentes sur la globidiose du dromadaire au Tchad. In, Progress in Protozoology, Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Protozoology, 29 July - 05 August 1965, London. Excerpta Medica Foundation, Amsterdam. Abstract 179. pp. 162-163.

Gruvel, J. and Graber, M. 1965b. Quelques resultats d'enquetes recentes sur la globidiose du dromadaire au Tchad. Revue d'Elevage et de Medecine Veterinaire des Pays Tropicaux 18: 423- 428.

Guerrero, C.A. 1967. Coccidia (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) of the Alpaca Lama pacos. Journal of Protozoology 14: 613-616.

Gill, H.S. 1976. Incidence of Eimeria and Infundibulorium in camel. Indian Veterinary Journal 53: 897-898.

Guerrero, C.A., Alva, J., Bazalar, H., and Tabacchi, L. 1970a. Infeccion experimental de Alpacas con Eimeria lamae. Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Peru. Boletin Extraordinario. 4: 79-83.

Guerrero, C.A., Alva, J., Leguia, G., and Bazalar, H. 1970b. Prevalencia de coccidias (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) en Alpacas, Lama pacos. Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Peru. Boletin Extraordinario. 4: 84-90.

Guerrero, C.A., Hernandez, J., and Alva, J. 1967a. Coccidiosis en Alpacas. Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Peru. Boletin Extraordinario. 2: 66-67.

Guerrero, C.A., Hernandez, J., and Alva, J. 1967b. Coccidiosis en Alpacas. Revista Universidad de San Marcos, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Lima. 21: 59-68.

Guerrero, C.A., Hernandez, J., Bazalar, H., and Alva, J. 1971. Eimeria macusaniensis n. sp. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) of the Alpaca Lama pacos. Journal of Protozoology 18: 162-163.

Henry, A. and Masson, G. 1932a. Sur un forme coccidienne de l'intestin du chameau. Comptes Rendus des Sciences de la Societe de Biologie (Paris) 109: 17-18.

Henry, A. and Masson, G. 1932b. La coccidosis du Dromadaire. Recueil Medecine Veterinaire Exotique 5: 185-193.

Henry, A. and Masson, G. 1932c. Considerations sur le genere Globidium. Globidium cameli n. sp., parasite du dromadaire. Annales de Parasitologie humaine et Comparee 10: 385-401.

Hodgin, C., Schillhorn van Veen, T.W., Fayer, R., and Richter, N. 1984. Leptospirosis and coccidial infection in a guanaco. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 185: 1442-1444.

Hussein, H.S., Kasim, A.A., and Shawa, Y.R. 1987. The prevalence and pathology of Eimeria infections in camels in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Comparative Pathology 97: 293-297.

Ipczynski, V. 1978. Ein Beitrag aur exogenen Entwicklung von Eimeria cameli (Henry und Masson, 1932), Reichenow 1953. Berliner und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 91: 11-12.

Iwanoff-Gobsem, P.S. 1934. Die Kokzidiose der Kamele. Zeitschrift fur Infektionskrankheiten 46: 1-4.

Jarvinen, J.A. 1999. Prevalence of Eimeria macusaniensis (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in midwestern Lama spp. Journal of Parasitology 85: 373-376.

Kasim, A.A., Hussein, H.S., and Al Shawa, Y.R. 1985. Coccidia in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Protozoology 32: 202-203.

Kawasmeh, Z.A. and Elbihari, S. 1983. Eimeria cameli (Henry and Mason, 1932) Reichenow, 1952: Redescription and prevalence in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Cornell Veterinarian 73: 58-66.

*Mirza, M.Y. 1970. Incidence and distribution of coccidia (Sporozoa: Eimeriidae) in mammals from Baghdad area. MS Thesis, University of Baghdad. 195 pp.

Mirza, M.Y. and Al-Rawas, A.Y. 1976. Coccidia (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from camels (Camels dromedarius) in Iraq. Bulletin of Biological Research Centre, Baghdad 7: 24-31.

Naville, A. 1936. Globidium (Gastrocystis) cameli (Henry ve Masson) hakkinda. Propos du Globidium (Gastrocystis) cameli (Henry et Masson). Istanbul Universitesi Fen Fakultesi Mecmuasi 1: 1-9.

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Prasad, H. 1960. Studies on the coccidia of some mammals of the families Bovidae, Cervidae and Camelidae. Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 20: 390-400.

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Rysavy, B. 1954. Prispevek k posnani kokcidi nasich i dovezenych bratovcu. Ceskoslovenska Parasitologie 1: 131-174.

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Yagoub, I.A. 1989. Coccidiosis in SUdanese camels (Camelus dromedarius): I-First record and description of Eimeria spp. harboured by camels in the eastern region of Sudan. Journal of Protozoology 36: 422-423.

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Yakimoff, W.L. 1934b. Two new species of coccidia: Eimeria triffitt n. sp. of the eland (Orias canna), and Eimeria peruviana n. sp. of the llama (Lama glama). Parasitology 26: 510-511.

Yakimoff, W.L., Iwanoff-Gobsem, P.S., and Matschoulsky, S.N. 1936. Zur Frage der Infektion der Tiere mit heterogenen Kokzidien. Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie, Infektionkrankheiten und Hygiene. I. Abteilung Originale 137: 299-302.

Yakimoff, W.L. and Matschoulsky, S.H. 1939a. On a new coccidium from camels, Eimeria dromedarii n. sp. Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society of London 59: 26-29.

Yakimoff, W.L. and Matschoulsky, S.H. 1939b. On the study of coccidosis in camels (Eimeria dromedarii n. sp.) . Vestnik Mikrobiologii Epidemiologii i Parazitologii 18: 196-200.