Mesotriton Bolkay 1927

Duszynski, Donald W., Bolek, Matthew G. & Upton, Steve J., 2007, Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of amphibians of the world, Zootaxa 1667 (1667), pp. 1-77 : 55-56

Host genus Mesotriton Bolkay 1927

(1 spp.)

Eimeria spherica ( Schneider, 1887) Levine and Becker 1933 ( Fig. 44)

Synonyms: Coccidium sphericum Schneider 1887; Cytophagus tritonis Steinhaus 1891 , pro parte; Eimeria tritonis ( Steinhaus 1891) Levine and Becker 1933 ; Karyophagus tritonis ( Steinhaus 1891) von Wasielewski 1896 ; non Eimeria spherica of Matubayashi 1937; non Eimeria spherica Dogiel 1948 , non Eimeria dogieli from fish.

Type host: Mesotriton alpestris (Laurenti 1768) , Alpine newt

Other hosts: Triturus cristatus (Laurenti 1768) , Crested newt; Lissotriton helveticus (Razoumovsky, 1789) , Palmate newt; Lissotriton vulgaris (L. 1758), Common newt.

Type locality: EUROPE: France .

Geographic distribution: EUROPE: France.

Description of sporulated oocyst: Oocyst shape: spheroidal; wall thickness: ~0.8; wall characteristics: 2 wall layers, (1 in line drawing), outer, smooth; inner thinner than outer; L x W: 35 (22–38); L/W ratio: 1.0; M, PG: absent; OR: present; OR characteristics: large spheroidal mass,>25, that consists of a homogeneous central body surrounded by granules of various sizes that occupies about 2/3 volume of oocyst. Distinctive features of oocyst: spheroidal shape and very large OR.

Description of sporocyst and sporozoites: Sporocyst shape: ellipsoidal, slightly pointed at both ends; L x W: 12–15 x 6–7; L/W ratio: ~2.1; SB: may be present (line drawing); SSB: absent; PSB: may be present (line drawing); SR: present; SR characteristics: amorphous to ellipsoidal mass of large granules, not exactly median, but closer to one side of the sporocyst (line drawing); SZ: elongate, slightly pointed at one end, slightly rounded at the other, and slightly longer than sporocyst (line drawing). Distinctive features of sporocyst: the sporocyst looks similar to an oocyst of Monocystis (line drawing).

Prevalence: Unknown.

Sporulation: Unknown.

Prepatent and patent periods: Unknown.

Site of infection: Intestinal mucosa.

Endogenous stages: Not described (?). However, Phisalix (1933) described endogenous stages of an Eimeria sp. from Triton alpester (= Mesotriton alpestris ) collected from the Jura and Alpes mountain range at 800 m and 2100 m elevation respectively, and around Paris. Those oocysts were 35 wide and sporocysts were 14 x 7, as were the sporozoites, suggesting that the species may be E. spherica . In the descriptions, meronts were 12–25 x 10.5–20 and contained 8–24 merozoites which were 8.4–21 x 3–3.1. Fully formed microgametocytes were ovoidal, measured 23 x 27, and contained at least 150 microgametes; microgametes were 6 x 3. Mature macrogametes were oval, 20 x 25, and took up the entire host cell.

Pathology: Unknown.

Materials deposited: None.

Remarks: This species was first described by Schneider (1887) in a 1 page note and later redescribed in detail by Lavier (1936). It has not been reported since then.

Eimeria tertia Lavier 1936 ( Fig. 45)

Type host: Mesotriton alpestris (Laurenti 1768) , Alpine newt.

Other hosts: None to date.

Type locality: EUROPE: France .

Geographic distribution: EUROPE: France.

Description of sporulated oocyst: Oocyst shape: ovoidal; wall thickness: ~0.6; wall characteristics: 2 wall layers (but 1 in line drawing) outer, smooth; L x W: 26 x 21 (22–33 x 18–25); L/W ratio: 1.2; M, PG: absent; OR: present; OR characteristics: large spheroidal mass of granules of various sizes and occupies about 1/2 volume of oocyst. Distinctive features of oocyst: ovoidal shape and large OR.

Description of sporocyst and sporozoites: Sporocyst shape: ellipsoidal, slightly pointed at both ends; L x W: 12–15 x 6–7; L/W ratio: ~2.1; SB: may be present (line drawing); SSB, PSB: both absent; SR: present; SR characteristics: compact, ellipsoidal mass of large granules in center of sporocyst (line drawing); SZ: elongate, slightly pointed at one end, slightly rounded at the other, and slightly longer than sporocyst (line drawing). Distinctive features of sporocyst: none.

Prevalence: Unknown.

Sporulation: Unknown.

Prepatent and patent periods: Unknown.

Site of infection: Intestinal mucosa.

Endogenous stages: Unknown.

Pathology: Unknown.

Materials deposited: None.

Remarks: At the time, this was the third new species described by Lavier (1936). It has not been seen since its initial description.