Isospora ramphoceli n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Brazilian tanager (Aves: Passeriformes: Thraupidae) Ramphocelus bresilius dorsalis Sclater, 1855

Abstract

In the current study, a new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) collected from the Brazilian tanager Ramphocelus bresilius dorsalis Sclater, 1855 is reported from Brazil. Isospora ramphoceli n. sp. has oocysts which are spherical to sub-spherical, 23.7 × 22.8 μ m, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~1.2 μ m thick. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal or slightly ovoidal, 16.0 × 11.4 µm. Stieda body knob-like and prominent and substieda body large and homogeneous. Sporocyst residuum is composed of granules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with one refractile body and a nucleus. This is the sixth description of an isosporoid coccidium infecting R. b. dorsalis and the twelfth description from Thraupidae.