Type host: Suncus murinus (Linnaeus, 1766), House shrew.

Other hosts: None reported to date.

Type locality: ASIA: India: West Bengal.

Geographic distribution: ASIA: India.

Description of oocyst: Oocyst shape: subspheroid; number of walls: 2; wall thickness: 1.2-1.5; wall characteristics: outer, smooth, slightly yellowish; inner, same thickness as outer; L x W: 18.8 x 16.1 (15-21 x 14-16.5); L/W ratio: 1.2; M: absent; OR: absent; PG: absent. Distinctive features of oocyst: none.

Description of sporocysts and sporozoites: Sporocyst shape: ovoid; L x W: 12.6 x 7.1 (8.5-13.5 x 6.5-8); L/W ratio: 1.8; SB: present; SSB: absent; PSB: absent; SR: present; SR characteristics: fine globules, scattered; SP: comma- to banana-shaped, 5.1 x 3.2 (4.5-7 x 2-3.5), with a round or ovoid RB at broad end. Distinctive features of sporocyst: pointed at one end with distinct RB.

Prevalence: 1/21 (5%).

Sporulation: Exogenous. Oocysts sporulated in 36 hours 2.5% potassium dichromate solution at 35-37 C.

Prepatent and patent periods: Unknown.

Site of infection: Endogenous stages were found in the subepithelial portion of the villi, sometimes above the submucosa at the base of the villi in "intestinal tissue pieces" from the only host animal that was passing unsporulated oocysts.

Endogenous development: Trophozoites are 4.9 x 3.3 (4-6.5 x 3-5) with nuclei that are ~2.0 (1.5-2). Binucleate meronts are 4.3 x 3.8 (4-6 x 3-5), while fully-formed meronts with 12 merozoites were 5 x 5 (4.5-6 x 4-5). Merozoites are 3 x 1.

Gametocytes were mostly in the subepithelium, only rarely in the epithelial layer. Young microgametocytes, with numerous scattered nuclei, are 3.7 x 3 (3-4 x 2-4), whereas mature forms with peripheral nuclei, were 4.1 x 4.0 (4-4.5 x 3.5-4.5). Young macrogametocytes are 5.3 x 3.3 (4.5-6 x 3-4) with a central nucleus, ~1.0, with a clear halo around it. Cytoplasm of the macrogametocytes is vacuolar, especially in late development.

Materials deposited: The authors stated that "type material will be deposited to the National Zoological Collection of the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta," but no accession numbers were given, nor was the kind of type material stated.

Remarks: Bandyopadhyay and Das Gupta (1985) described this species from S. m. murinus (Linnaeus), the house shrew. It is possible that the asexual stages they describe represent a second coccidian species since development of Eimeria species tends to be synchronous and oocysts already were being discharged in the feces. Unfortunately, it is not known if these tissue sections were deposited in the National Zoological Collection of Calcutta or not. This species has not been reported since its original decription.

References: Bandyopadhyay and Das Gupta (1985). (1998).