Eimeria bahatica sp. n. (Protozoa: Coccidia) from European Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas) in Hungary

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1 Paraíit. Hung Eimeria bahatica sp. n. (Protozoa: Coccidia) from European Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas) in Hungary Dr. László SUGÁR University of Agricultural Sciences, Gödöllő, Research Station of Game Giology, Budakeszi "Eimeria babatica sp. n. (Protozoa: Coccidia) from European Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas) in Hungary" - Sugár, L. - Parasit. Hung ABSTRACT. A new intestinal coccidium is described under the name Eimeria babatica sp. n. from a hare in Hungary. Among the intestinal coccidia of the hare Eimeria (E. ) leporis had been described first, by NIESCHULZ in Later the species E. magna var, robertsoni and E. magna var, robertsoni forma semisculpta were described by MADSEN (1938). In 1943 CARVALHO characterized E. robertsoni as an independent species and described E. magna forma townsendi. In 1956, PELLÉRDY described E.europaea and E.hungarica, and declared E. semisculpta and E. townsendi to be independent. As far as we are informed, in the meantime two additional hare coccidia were described, i.e. E. stefanskii Pastuszko, 1961, and E. belorussica Litvenkova, In our own parasitological studies conducted during the period , all known intestinal hare coccidia except E. stefanskii and E. belorussica were encountered in hosts indigenous in Hungary. Detailed analysis of the intestinal contents of some massively infected hosts revealed the presence of E.sculpta oocysts and of previously unknown oocysts with well defineable differentiating features from the known intestinal coccidia of the hare. The new species has been named Eimeria babatica after the host's habitat (Gödöllő - Babat Pussta), and its description is presented in this paper. Eimeria babatica sp.n. (Figs. 1, 2A, 3A). Host: European hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas). Origin and habitat: Hungary, Gödöllő - Babat Pussta. Localization: large intestine. Oocyst shape: broad ovoid, less often regular or elongated ovoid, rarely asymmetrical. The inside of the oocyst exhibits a bluish shade. Oocyst dimensions: 20-30x16-21 }i (average: 25x19 u). Oocyst wall: 0.8-O. 9 JJ thick, colourless, smooth, bilayered, with a micropyle 6-8 ja in diameter and surrounded by a conspicuous collar-like projection at the more tapering pole. nular. Sporont: globular o r a l m o s t globular i n shape, _u i n diameter, finely g r a Sporulation takes hours at room temperature, in 1% potassium bichromate solution. No oocyst residuum is formed. Sporocysts: x yi (on average 14 x 7 u) in size, elongated ovoid in shape, with a knob-like Stieda body at the bluntly tapering pole. The sporocyst residuum usually consists of a few scattered refractile granules, less often it forms a coherent, elongated mass, up to 6x3 u in size. The brush stroke like sporozoites measure x ju, and enclose one large and one smaller refractile globule. The endogenous development of the species and the pathological role thereof are unknown.

2 I Kffcrriilia! iliafíimm* The differentiating features of E. babatica sp. n. from morphologically related Eimerian parasites of Lepus hosts are listed below. A) Apart from the geographically very far removed habitat of its hosts (a North American Lepus species), E. septentrionalis Yakimoff, Matschoulsky et Spartansky, 1936, also devoid of an oocyst residuum, has - a much wider micropyle (12 ju); - oocysts usually wider than 20 ji; - sporocyst residuum absent. Fig. 1: Eimeria babatica sp. n. (oocyst) B) Among the species possessing an oocyst residuum, 1. E. europaea Pellérdy, 1956, (Figs. 3B, SB) - always has an oocyst residuum (4. 5-9,u); - the wall and inside of its oocyst stage are orange (salmon) coloured; Figs. 2-5: Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria species from the faeces of Lepus europaeus (floation, oocysts sporulated in 1% solution; immersion, obj. loox) A = E. babatica sp. n. ; B = E. europaea; C = E. hungarica; D = E. leporis; E = E. robertsoni; F = E. sculpta; H = E. semisculpta.

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5 - the micropyle is somewhat broader (7-9 p) relative to that ofe. babatica sp. n.; - the oocysts are usually longer than 30 p, and more than 20 p in width; - the sporocysts are much longer ( p). 2. E. hungarica Pellérdy, 1956 (Figs. 2C, 3C, 4C) - always has an oocyst residuum (1.5-6 ju); - its micropyle is inconspicuous and very narrow ( }i) relative to that found in E. babatica; - the transversal oocyst diameter is always less than 16 u; - the sporocysts are always less than 13 p long. 3. E. leporis (Nieschulz, 1923) (Fig. 4D) - always has an oocyst residuum (4-7 JJ); - the inside of the oocyst is pale orange (salmon) coloured; - the micropyle is indistinct and narrow (average: 5 u) relative to E. babatica; - the oocysts are usually more than 30,u in length, and less than 17 p in width. 4. E. belorussica Litvenkova, 1969 (presence or absence of an oocysts residuum in this species has not been established): - the oocyst wall is light brown; - the micropyle, of unknown dimension, occurs on the blunter oocyst pole; - the oocysts never exceed 16 yx in width. References PELLÉRDY, L. (1974): Coccidia and coccidiosis. - Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, pp PELLÉRDY, L. (1964): Sporozoa II. - : Fauna Hungáriáé, Received: 25 March, 1978 Dr. SUGÁR, L. Research Station of Game Biology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gödöllő, H-2092 Budakeszi, P.O. Box 13.