Eimeria duodenalis Norton, 1967

Malikova, Zamina K. & Ahmadov, Elshad I., 2023, Coccidial fauna of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus colchicus), Amurian Zoological Journal XV (1), pp. 155-161 : 158

Eimeria duodenalis Norton, 1967

Oocysts are round or short oval-shaped. The cover wall is smooth, 1.0–1.3 μm thick, the color of the inner layer varies from reddish-brown to dark brown, the outer layer is brownish-yellow. Micropile abscent. The maximum length of oocysts found in pheasants ( Ph.colchicus colchicus ) is 22.90 μm, the minimum length — 20.00 μm, the maximum width is 19.20 μm, the minimum width — 17.40 μm; on average the size is 20.83 ± 1.26 × 18.07 ± 0.72 μm. The form index varies between 1.10–1.20; on average it is 1.15 ± 0.03 (Table 2).

The inside of recently excreted oocysts is completely filled with large granular cytoplasm. As the oocytes begin to spore, they take the shape of a balloon; at this time, the cytoplasm separates from the oocyst wall and accumulates in the centre. The sporulated oocysts also form four oval and in some cases round sporocysts. The Stieda body is present. The dimensions of spores are 10.8–11.3 × 5.4– 6.7, on average — 11.0 × 5.9 μm. Two comma-shaped sporozoites develop in each sporocyst. The dimensions of spores are 4.5–5.4 × 3.8– 4.6 μm, on average — 4.8 × 4.2 μm. Although oocysts have a residual body, sporocysts do not have a residual body.