Eimeria gonocilia Duszynski and Moore, 1986
Type host: Urotrichus talpoides Temminck, 1841, Greater Japanese mole.
Other hosts: None reported to date.
Type locality: ASIA: Japan, Honshu, Aichi Prefecture, Innyama City, near Jyakkoin Temple.
Geographic distribution: ASIA: Japan, Honshu.
Description of oocyst:
Oocyst shape: subspheroid to ellipsoid;
number of walls: 2;
wall thickness: ~2.0+;
wall characteristics: outer, pale yellow, highly ornate with thick, cilia-like processes extending through it and beyond its outer surface, ~3/4 of total thickness; inner, smooth, transparent and capable of maintaining its integrity when outer layer breaks away (Fig. 6 in Duszynski and Moore, 1986);
L x W: 28.8 x 24.4 (25-30 x 21-28);
L/W ratio: 1.2 (1.05-1.5);
M: absent;
OR: absent;
PG: 1, ~1-2 in 36% of all oocysts seen.
Distinctive features of oocyst: the thick, cilia-like processes extending from the outer wall surface.
Description of sporocysts and sporozoites:
Sporocyst shape: foot-ball shaped, pointed at both ends, with distinct knob at end opposite SB;
L x W: 17.0 x 9.0 (15-19 x 7-11);
L/W ratio: 1.9 (1.7-2.2);
SB: present;
SSB: present;
PSB: absent;
SR: absent;
SP: elongate, seem highly intertwined within sporocyst, with a spheroid RB at one end.
Distinctive features of sporocyst: pointed end with a protruding knob opposite SB.
Prevalence: 4/45 (9%) in type host; 0/6 in U. pilirostris.
Sporulation: Oocysts were sporulated when returned to the laboratory from the field.
Prepatent and patent periods: Unknown.
Site of infection: Unknown. Oocysts recovered from feces and intestinal contents.
Materials deposited: Skin, skull, skeleton and tissues of the symbiotype host are preserved in the Mammal Division of the Museum of SW Biology, UNM: MSB No. 45240 (NK 6013, male), D.W. Reduker #381, 24 May, 1981. Photosyntypes in the USNPC No. 85985.
Remarks: The outer surface of the oocyst wall of this species distinguishes it from all other Eimeria spp. described from insectivores. This species has not been reported since its original description.
References: Duszynski and Moore (1986).