Type host: Spermophilus fulvus.

Type locality: Asia: Uzbekistan, Karschinski and Ulianovski regions.

Description of oocyst: Oocyst shape: ovoid, rarely round; wall thickness: 1.5-1.7; layers: 1; outer layer colour: yellow; outer layer texture: smooth (in drawing); micropyle: absent; OR: present; OR characteristics: large sphere, possibly clear (in drawing); OR L x W: not given; PG: absent; size: 19.5 x 16.8 (17-24 x 15-19); L/W ratio: 1.2 (1.1-1.2). Distinctive features of oocyst: none.

Description of sporocysts and sporozoites: Sporocyst shape: ovoid; size: 9-12 x 5-10; SB: present; SB L x W: not given; SB characteristics: not given; SSB: absent; PSB: absent; SR: present; SR characteristics: not given; SR size: not given; SP: lacks a refractile body. Distinctive features of sporocyst: none.

Remarks: Eimeria deserticola has been observed only once (Davronov, 1973). Davronov (1973) noted that oocysts of his species differed from those of E. callospermophili by being smaller (although they are almost identical: 19.5 x 16.8 vs. 19 x 16) and the presence of a SB in the sporocysts (which also is present in E. callospermophili). However, based on the drawing, E. deserticola (Figure 8) appears to be distinct from E. callospermophili (Figure 5).

Reference: Davronov (1973).