Eimeria crotalviridis sp. n. from Prairie Rattlesnakes, Crotalus viridis viridis, in New Mexico with Data on Excystation of Sporozoites and Ultrastructure of the Oocyst Wall

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Abstract
Oocysts of E. crotalviridis sp. nov. , are described from prairie rattlesnakes C. viridis viridis in New Mexico [USA] on the basis of light, EM and in vitro excystation of sporozoites. Sporulated oocysts of E. crotalviridis are elliptical, 26.4 .times. 22.3 (23-29 .times. 20-24) .mu.m with ovoid sporocysts 11.7 .times. 8.1 (11-13 .times. 7-9) .mu.m. A micropyle, micropyle cap and polar bodies are absent, but oocyst, sporocyst residua, Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Excysted sporozoites are 12.4 .times. 2.8 (11-13 .times. 2-3) .mu.m and have 1 large posterior refractile body and a nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Ultrastructurally, the oocyst wall has 2 layers, a thick, electron dense, highly sculptured outer layer composed of a fine granular matrix and a thin, granular, osmiophilic inner layer, separated from the outer layer by at least 1 unit membrane. These layers are 441 (353-510) and 21.6 (19-29) nm thick, respectively. Within 15 min after exposure to a trypsin-sodium taurocholate fluid, of E. crotalviridis excysted from 5 mo. old sporocysts.