Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 12. (Budapest, 1979)
Earlier finds revealed the occasional occurrence of oocysts similar to E. sculpta, however, of a much larger size. Sporulated oocysts were first observed in November 1978. Characteristic features are described under the name E. macrosculpta (see below). Eimeria macrosculpta sp. n. (Fig. 1 a-b) Host: European hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas). Localization: large intestine. Origin and habitat: Hungary: - Gödöllő, Babát Puszta (Com. Pest), Besenyőtelek (Com. Heves), Gyarmatpuszta (Com. Komárom), Kornádi (Com. Békés), Biharkeresztes (Com. Hajdú-Bihar). Extensity of infection: 16. 7% in 108 hares. Intensity: 2-<v2500 Ooc. P. G. Oocyst shape: Cylindrical or long ovoid, rarely asymmetrical. The inside of the oocyst exhibits a yellow shade. Oocyst dimension: 42-50x25-33 u (average: 46x26 ju). Oocyst wall: 1.2-1.4 _p thick, yellow, bilayered, external surface showing fine granulation with a micropyle 7.5-9 JJ in diameter. Sporont: globular or almost globular in shape, 19-23 p. in diameter, finely granular. Sporulation: takes 3-4 days at room temperature, in 1% potassium bichromate solution. No oocyst residium is formed. Sporocysts: 19-20x9-10^1 (on average 19.6-9.4 ju) in size, elongated ovoid in shape, with a knob-like Stieda body at the bluntly tapering pole. The sporocySt residuum usually consists of refractile granules, less frequently it forms a coherent, elongated mass, up to 7-12x6-8^ in size. The brush stroke like sporozoites measure 13- 15x5- 6 JJ, and enclose one large and one smaller refractile globule. The endogenous development of the species is unknown. Differential diagnosis Features differentiating E. macrosculpta sp.n. from the morphologically related Eimerian parasites of Lepus hosts, are listed below. A) Species not possessing oocyst residuum: 1. E. sculpta Madsen, 1938. - the oocysts are usually less than 40 p. in length and 25 p in width; - the sporocysts are always less than 18 p. in length; 2. E. semisculpta Madsen, 1938. - the oocysts are usually less than 42 ji in length and 26 _p in width; - the measures of the morphologically quite different sporocysts are 18x8.5^ on average; 3. E. townsendi Pellérdy, 1956. - the ovoid oocysts are usually less than 45 p in length and above 27 ju in width; - the measures of the morphologically quite different sporocysts are 19x10.2 ji on average; B) Species possessing oocyst residuum: - always have oocyst residuum - sporocyst residuum is absent - the oocysts measure over 59 p in length and 32 p in width. References KUTZER, E. - FREY, H. (1976): Die Parasiten der Feldhasen (Lepus europaeus) in Österreich. Berl.-Münch. Tierärztl. Wschr, 89. 480-483. PELLÉRDY, L. (1974): Coccidia and coccidiosis. - Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 959. SUGÁR, L. - MURAI, É. - MÉSZÁROS, F. (1978): Über die Endoparasiten der wildlebenden Leporidae Ungarns. - Parasit. Hung., 11 , 63-85. Received: 28 November, 1978 Dr. SUGÁR, L. University of Agricultural Sciences, Gödöllő, 10 Game Biology Research Station H-2092, Budakeszi , P.O. Box 13.
