Type host: Urotrichus talpoides Temminck, 1841, Greater Japanese shrew mole.

Other hosts: Urotrichus pilirostris (True, 1886), Lesser Japanese shrew mole.

Type locality: ASIA: Japan, Honshu, Nagano Prefecture, 2.0 km E. Haramura.

Geographic distribution: ASIA: Japan, Honshu.

Description of oocyst: Oocyst shape: ellipsoid, slightly ovoid; number of walls: 1 obvious layer; wall thickness: <1.0; wall characteristics: smooth, of uniform thickness; L x W: 15.5 x 11.4 (13-18 x 10-13); L/W ratio: 1.4 (1.1-1.6); M: absent; OR: absent; PG: present as 1 highly refractile body, ~2.3 x 2.5. Distinctive features of oocyst: among the smallest of all Eimeria spp. described from this host group.

Description of sporocysts and sporozoites: Sporocyst shape: ovoid; L x W: 9.1 x 5.2 (8-10 x 4-6); L/W ratio: 1.75 (1.5-2.1); SB: present, small and inconspicuous; SSB: absent; PSB: absent; SR: present; SR characteristics: 1 spheroid, lipid-like body, ~2.5; SP: with a large, posterior RB. Distinctive features of sporocyst: they are tightly packed within the oocyst.

Prevalence: 10/45 (22%) in type host; 5/6 (83%) 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 Divison of the Museum of SW Biology, UNM: U. talpoides: MSB No. 45308 (NK 6060, female), D.W. Reduker #404, 29 May, 1981; U. pilirostris: MSB No. 45665 (NK 6433, male), T.L. Yates #1000, 8 July, 1981. Photosyntypes in the USNPC No. 85997.

Remarks: Oocysts of this species are among the smallest eimerian oocysts yet described from this host group; the species has not been reported since its original description.

References: Duszynski and Moore (1986).