Coccidia (Eimeria and Isospora) of Urodela (Caudata)

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Updated: 20 January 2008
Comments: eimeria@unm.edu (Duszynski), lcouch@unm.edu (Couch), or coccidia@ksu.edu (Upton)

Family: Ambystomatidae

Eimeria ambystomae Saxe, 1955

1. Hosts: Larval Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger salamander); Ambystoma mavortium (Barred tiger salamander), A. texanum (Smallmouth salamander)
2. References: McAllister & Upton 1987; Saxe 1955; Upton et al. 1993

Eimeria distorta Saxe, 1955

1. Host: Larval Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger salamander)
2. Reference: Saxe 1955

Eimeria kingi Saxe, 1955

1. Host: Ambystoma tigrinum(Tiger salamander)
2. Reference: Saxe 1955

Eimeria microcapi Duszynski, Riddle, Anderson, & Mead, 1972

1. Host: Ambystoma mavortium(Barred tiger salamander)
2. Reference: Duszynski et al. 1972

Eimeria opacum Upton, McAllister, & Trauth, 1993

1. Host: Ambystoma opacum (Marbled salamander)
2. Reference: Upton et al. 1993

Eimeria trauthi McAllister and Upton, 2008

1. Host: Ambystoma opacum (Marbled salamander)
2. Reference: McCallister and Upton, 2008

Eimeria urodela Duszynski, Riddle, Anderson, & Mead, 1972

1. Hosts: Ambystoma mavortium (Barred tiger salamander); Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger salamander)
2. Reference: Duszynski et al. 1972

Eimeria waltoni Saxe, 1955

1. Host: Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger salamander)
2. Reference: Saxe 1955

Isospora jeffersonianum Doran, 1953

1. Host: Ambystoma sp.
2. Reference: Doran 1953




Family: Plethodontidae

Isospora hightoni Upton, McAllister, & Trauth, 1993

1. Synonym: Isospora sp. of McAllister, Upton, & Trauth, 1993
2. Host: Plethodon albagula (Western slimy salamander)
3. References: McAllister et al. 1993; Upton et al. 1993




Family: Salamandridae

Eimeria canaliculata Lavier, 1936

1. Hosts: Triturus cristatus (Crested newt); Mesotriton alpestris (Alpine newt); Lissotriton helveticus (Palmate newt); L. vulgaris (Common newt)
2. References: Lavier 1936, 1937; Walton 1961c

Eimeria grobbeni Rudovsky, 1925

1. Synonym: non Eimeria grobbeni of Doran, 1953; non Eimeria grobbeni of Walton, 1961
2. Host: Salamandra atra (Alpine salamander)
3. References: Rudovsky 1915; Saxe, 1955; Walton 1961a

Eimeria nipponensis Upton, McAllister, & Trauth, 1993

1. Synonym: Eimeria propria of Matubayasi, 1937, pro parte
2. Host: Cynops pyrrhogaster (Japanese fire-bellied newt)
3. References: Matubayasi 1937; Upton et al. 1993

Eimeria longaspora Barrow & Hoy, 1960

1. Host: Notophthalmus viridscens (Eastern newt)
2. References: Barrow & Hoy 1960; Walton 1961b

Eimeria megaresidua Barrow & Hoy, 1960

1. Host: Notophthalmus viridscens (Eastern newt)
2. References: Barrow & Hoy 1960; Walton 1961b

Eimeria propria (Schneider, 1881) Doflein, 1909

1. Synonyms: Coccidium proprium (Schneider, 1881) Schneider, 1887; Orthosporo propria Schneider, 1881; Pfeifferia (Coccidium) propria Labbe(1896); non Eimeria propria of Matubayashi, 1937
2. Hosts: Triturus cristatus (Crested newt), Mesotriton alpestris (Alpine newt), Lissotriton vulgaris (Common newt)
3. References: Doflein 1909; Labbe 1894a; Lavier 1936, 1937; Matubayasi 1937; Schneider 1881, 1887; Siedlecki 1898; Simond 1897; Walton 1941, 1961c, 1964

Eimeria pyrrhogaster Upton, McAllister, & Trauth, 1993

1. Synonym: Eimeria propria of Matubayasi, 1937, pro parte
2. Host: Cynops pyrrhogaster (Japanese fire-bellied newt)
3. References: Matubayasi 1937; Upton et al. 1993

Eimeria saitamaensis Upton, McAllister, & Trauth, 1993

1. Synonym: Eimeria spherica of Matubayasi, 1937
2. Host: Cynops pyrrhogaster (Japanese fire-bellied newt)
3. References: Matubayasi 1937; Upton et al. 1993

Eimeria salamandrae (Steinhaus, 1889) Dobell, 1909

1. Synonyms: Acystis parasitica Labbe, 1894, pro parte; Caryophagus salamandrae (Steinhaus, 1889) Druner, 1894; Coccidium salamandrae (Steinhaus, 1889) Simond 1897; Cytophagus tritonis Steinhaus, 1891, pro parte; Karyophagus salamandrae Steinhaus, 1889; Karyphagus tritonis (Steinhaus, 1891) von Wasiellewski, 1896
2. Host: Salamandra salamandra (Fire salamander)
3. References: Doflein & Reichenow 1953; Druner 1894; Heidenhain 1888; Labbe 1894b; Simond 1897; Steinhaus 1889; Walton 1941, 1961c

Eimeria spherica Schneider, 1887) Levine & Becker, 1933

1. Synonyms: Coccidium sphericum Schneider, 1887; Cytophagus tritonis Steinhaus, 1891, pro parte; Eimeria tritonis (Steinhaus, 1891) Levine & Becker, 1933; Karyophagus tritonis (Steinhaus, 1891) von Wasielewski, 1896; non Eimeria spherica of Matubayashi, 1937; non Eimeria spherica Dogiel, 1948, now Eimeria dogieli from fish
2. Hosts: Mesotriton alpestris (Alpine newt); Triturus cristatus (Northern crested newt); Lissotriton helveticus (Palmate newt); L. vulgaris (Common newt)
3. References: Lavier 1936, 1937; Levine & Becker 1933; Matubayasi 1937; Phisalix 1933; Schneider 1887; Steinhaus 1891; von Waisielewski 1896; Walton 1941, 1961c

Eimeria tarichae Levine, 1980

1. Synonym: Eimeria grobberi of Doran, 1953
2. Host: Taricha torosa (California newt)
3. Reference: Levine 1980

Eimeria tertia Lavier, 1936

1. Host: Mesotriton alpestris (Alpine newt)
2. Reference: Lavier 1936, 1937




Non-Valid Designations

SPECIES INQUIRENDAE, INCERTAE SEDIS, AND NOMENA NUDA

In this section, we place all those “coccidia” (Eimeriidae) about which too little is known from the published literature to decide whether they are real or not. Using definitions from the 4th edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Ride et al. 2000), species inquirenda (pl. species inquirendae) refers to “a species of doubtful identity needing further investigation.” Implicit in our use of this term is that the taxonomic unit, or “species,” has been taxonomically named in some published document, but without existence of a type specimen of any kind (e.g. line drawing, photosyntype, stages in tissue sections, oocysts in preservative, etc.) and without sufficient qualitative and quantitative data on the most widely available stage in the lifecycle (i.e. the sporulated oocyst) to distinguish it from other, perhaps closely related, species.

The term incertae sedis, defined by the Code, means “of uncertain taxonomic position.” Thus, this term applies to forms that are mentioned (e.g. as Eimeria sp. or Isospora sp.), but for which no mensural or qualitative data (e.g. number of sporocysts and sporozoites in the oocyst) were provided.

Finally, sometimes authors, especially in the older literature, gave new names to organisms they saw, but failed to conform to Article 12 of the Code if published before 1931 or, if published after 1930, failed to conform to Article 13 (Ride et al. 2000). These names become nomen nudum (pl. nomena nuda), and, thus, become preoccupied and unavailable names. However, the same name may be made available later for the same or a different concept, but in such a case it would take authorship and date from that act of establishment, not from any earlier publication as a nomen nudum.

SPECIES INQUIRENDAE

Eimeria salamandraeatrae (Phisalix 1927) Levine and Becker 1933, species inquirenda

1. Synonym: Coccidium salamandrae atra Phisalix 1927
2. Host: Salamandra atra Laurenti 1768, Alpine salamander.
3. Remarks: This species was first found somewhere in the Alps at 800–1400 m by Phisalix (1927). Spheroidal oocysts were 27 x 23 with M, OR and PG all absent. Sporocysts spheroidal, 10.5 wide. Development was reported in intestinal epithelial cells with 3 types of meronts. Type 1 meronts are granular, spheroidal, 15 wide, and produce 6–10 short, piriform merozoites, 4.2 x 2.1. Type 2 meronts undergo maturation in the lumen of the intestine where they form 8–16 merozoites, each 12.6 x 6.3 with a central N. Type 3 meronts are 31.5 x 27.3 and produce 12–20 merozoites which are “flexed,” 21 x 3–4, and taper toward both ends. Gametogony takes place in the epithelial cell layer. Young microgamonts are 15 x 10.5, but may reach 35 x 27, or larger, by maturity; they have large refractile granules and vacuoles that migrate toward the periphery of the gamont, become flattened, and form >100 flexed microgametes, each 6–7.5 x 1. Macrogamonts are ovoidal, granular bodies, 15 x 10.5, and may be found subepithelially; they pass into the intestinal lumen for fertilization where they develop into oocysts. Unfortunately, no drawings or photomicrographs exist.

INCERTAE SEDIS

Eimeria sp. of McAllister et al., 2002, incertae sedis

1. Host: Plethodon kiamichi Highton in Highton, Maha, and Maxson, 1989, Kiamichi slimy salamander.
2. Remarks: McAllister et al. (2002) surveyed 4 endemic Plethodon species from Arkansas and Oklahoma and found 1 of 16 (6%) P. kiamichi passing oocysts they identified as an Eimeria species, but did not describe or name it.

Eimeria sp. of Rankin, 1937 incertae sedis

1. Synonym: non Eimeria ranarum (Labbe, 1894) Doflein of Rankin, 1937.
2. Host: Ambystoma opacum (Gravenhorst, 1807), Marbled salamander.
3. Remarks: Although Rankin (1937) and Walton (1942) list A. opacum as a host for E. ranarum, a review of the literature of the known species of coccidia infecting amphibia suggests they may be a least genus specific. Thus, it is unlikely that E. ranarum, a parasite of frogs, infects salamanders.

Eimeria sp. of Rudovsky, 1925, incertae sedis

1. Host: Salamandra atra Laurenti, 1768, Alpine salamander.
2. Remarks: Rudovsky (1925) reported two small eimerians from S. atra. One, E. grobbeni, was reported to possess a M, but no OR; the second was of identical size, had an OR and an outer wall that collapsed easily, but he did not name it. We suggest that the latter may be a separate species or he may have seen oocysts of E. grobbeni that did not sporulate properly.

Eimeria sp. of Walton, 1942 incertae sedis

1. Synonyms: non Eimeria ranarum (Labbe, 1894) Doflein, 1909 of Walton, 1942; non Eimeria ranarum (Labbe, 1894) Doflein, 1909 of Rankin, 1937.
2. Host: Ambystoma opacum (Gravenhorst, 1807), Marbled salamander.
3. Remarks: Walton (1942) originally reported an unnamed eimerian in an Ambystoma sp. Later, Saxe (1955) stated that he had communicated with Walton and learned that the original observation was by Dr. H. Kirby. Kirby thought he had seen E. ranarum in A. opacum. This was clearly a misidentification.

Eimeria sp. 1 of Walton, 1961 incertae sedis

1. Synonym: non Eimeria grobbeni of Walton, 1961.
2. Host: Ambystoma tigrinum (Green, 1825), Tiger salamander.
3. Remarks: Walton (1961a) reported E. grobbeni, a parasite of Salamandra atra in Europe, from A. tigrinum in North AMerica. This is certainly a misidentification.

Eimeria sp. 2 of Walton, 1961 incertae sedis

1. Synonym: non Eimeria ranarum (Labbe, 1894) Doflein, 1909.
2. Host: Ambystoma tigrinum (Green, 1825), Tiger salamander.
3. Remarks: Walton (1961a) reported E. ranarum, a coccidian of Pelophylax esculenta and Rana temporaria in Europe, from A. tigrinum in North America. This certainly a misidentification.

NOMENA NUDA

Coccidium of Saxe, 1955, nomen nudum

1. Host: Desmognathus monticola Dunn 1916, Seal salamander.
2. Remarks: Saxe (1955) reported that coccidian oocysts (genus and species not given) were found.

Coccidium of Saxe, 1955, nomen nudum

1. Host: Desmognathus quadramaculatus (Holbrook 1840), Black-bellied salamander.
2. Remarks: Saxe (1955) reported that coccidian oocysts (genus and species not given) were found.

Eimeria labbei (?) (Labbe 1894) Hardcastle 1943, nomen nudum

1. Synonyms: Eimeria tritonis (Labbé 1896) Levine and Becker 1933; Pfeifferella tritonis (Labbé 1896) Labbé 1899; Pfeifferia sp. of Labbé 1894; Pfeifferia tritonis Labbé 1896; non Eimeria tritonis (Steinhaus 1891) Walton 1941, a synonym of Eimeria salamandrae.
2. Hosts: Triturus cristatus (Laurenti 1768), Crested newt; Lissotriton vulgaris (L. 1758), Common newt.
3. Remarks: There is nothing in Labbé’s description that would permit Hardcastle (1943) to make a species characterization. Labbé (1899) considered that his material might represent stages in the life-cycle of E. propria. Siedlecki (1898) identified P. tritonis with E. propria (see Saxe 1955). Only endogenous stages were described. Thus, this is a nomen nudum. These were probably E. canaliculata, E. propria, E. spherica, or E. tertia.

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