Experimental Transmission ofCaryospora simplex(Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) to Palestine Vipers,Vipera xanthina palestinae(Serpentes: Viperidae)

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Abstract
Four littermate, laboratory-reared Palestine vipers, Vipera xanthina palestinae (#149, #150, #151, #152) (Serpentes: Viperidae) were used to determine modes by which Caryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) could be transmitted to snakes. Viper #149 was inoculated orally by stomach tube with 5.0 .times. 104 sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from the feces of an Ottoman viper, V. .times.. xanthina and began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 121 days post-inoculation (DPI). Viper #150 was fed five mice that had been inoculated orally .gtoreq. 25 days previously with 5.0 .times. 104 sporulated oocysts of C. simplex and it began passing unsporulated oocysts of C. simplex 33 days after being fed the first two of five mice. Viper #151 was inoculated orally with sporulated oocysts of C. simplex obtained from viper #150 and began passing oocysts 52 DPI. Viper #152 served as an uninoculated control and did not pass oocysts of any species of coccidian. This study demonstrates that snake/snake and mouse/snake transmission of C. simplex readily occurs.