Eimeria fumeus Hertel and Duszynski,
1987
Type host: Sorex fumeus
Miller, 1895, Smokey shrew.
Other hosts: Sorex pacificus
Coues, 1877, Pacific shrew; Sorex unguiculatus Dobson, 1890,
Long-claed shrew; Sorex vagrans Baird, 1858, Vagrant
shrew.
Type locality: NORTH AMERICA: U.S.A.,
Vermont, Lamoille County, 6.4 kmE, 3.2 km S, Morrisville.
Geographic distribution: NORTH AMERICA:
U.S.A., Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont; ASIA: Japan,
Hokkaido.
Description of oocyst: Oocyst shape:
ellipsoid;
number of walls: 2;
wall thickness: ~1.0;
wall characteristics: outer rough, yellow, ~2/3 of total thickness;
L x W: 27.6 x 22.4 (25-32 x 20-25);
L/W ratio: 1.2 (1.1-1.5);
M: absent;
OR: absent;
PG: usually 1, but occasionally up to 4 fragments.
Distinctive features of oocyst: none.
Description of sporocysts and
sporozoites:
Sporocyst shape: football-shaped, being slightly pointed at both ends;
L x W: 15.1 x 8.8 (13-17 x 8-12);
L/W ratio: 1.7 (1.3-2.3);
SB: present;
SSB: present, about the same width as SB;
PSB: present at pointed end of sporocyst opposite SB;
SR: present;
SR characteristics: 1 large globule, ~4.0, or composed of several
globules;
SP: with distinct RB at one end, although this was not stated in the
original description.
Distinctive features of sporocyst: football shape and presence
of Sb, SSB, and PSB.
Prevalence: 4/16 (25%) S.
fumeus; 1/12 (8%) S. pacificua; 2/48 (4%) S.
unguiculatus; 1/112 (<1%) S. vagrans.
Sporulation:
Exogenous. Oocysts sporulated in 7-10 days in 2.5% (w/v) aqueous
potassium dichromate solution at 23º C.
Prepatent and patent periods:
Unknown.
Site of infection: Unknown.
Oocysts recovered from feces and intestinal contents.
Materials deposited: Skin, skull,
skeleon and tissues of the symbiotype host are preserved in the Mammal
Division of the MSB, UNM: MSB No. 43318 (NK 3032,sex undetermined), R.M.
Sullivan #484, 14 June 1980. Photosyntypes in the USNPC No 86348.
Remarks: Oocysts of this
species are distinctive among those from insectivores being one of only
2, thus far, to have sporocysts with a PSB.
References: Hertel and
Duszynski (1987).