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A new species of Caryospora Léger, 1904 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the endangered Round Island boa Casarea dussumieri (Schlegel) (Serpentes: Bolyeridae) of Round Island, Mauritius: an endangered parasite?

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An Erratum to this article was published on 13 April 2011

Abstract

A new species of Caryospora Léger, 1904 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), C. durelli n. sp., is described from the endangered Round Island boa Casarea dussumieri (Schlegel) (Serpentes: Bolyeridae) from Round Island, Mauritius. Six of 11 hosts were infected. Oöcysts are spherical to subspherical, 19.2 × 18.2 (17.5–21 × 16–21) μm, n = 20, and have a shape index (mean length/mean width) of 1.05 (1.02–1.09). The bi-layered wall is composed of an outer layer of c.0.6 μm thick and an inner layer of c.0.4 μm thick. A micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 14.7 × 11.0 (13–16 × 9.5–11.5) μm, n = 20, and have a shape index of 1.33. Both Stieda and substieda bodies are present. The sporocyst residuum measures c.12 × 4.5 μm, is surrounded by sporozoites and composed of numerous granules. Refractile bodies are present but not clearly visible. This is the first coccidian parasite reported from the family Bolyeridae and the first species of Caryospora reported from the Mascarenes. Conservation issues concerning parasites of endangered host species are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Fauna and Flora International, The Royal Geographical Society, The Percy Sladen Memorial Fund, The Godman Fund, The Appleyard Fund, Leica Cameras, Kodak Cameras (UK) and the V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation. We are grateful to: the Mauritian Government National Parks and Conservation Service (Director, Yousoof Mungroo) for fieldwork permits; Kirsty Swinnerton, Eshan Dulloo and Peirre de Boucherville Baissac (Mauritius Project of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust); Brian Bell (Wildlife Management International Ltd.); Mike Bell (New Zealand Department of Conservation); Jos Bhuiyan, Jock Marfell, Roger Jackon, Sue Belbin, Jonathan Cook and other volunteers on Raleigh International expedition 93F (teams “Sharkbait”, “Dodo commitments”, “Geckoes” and “Weeds”); John G.E. Lewis, Sheila Lewis, Janet D. Cottingham and Esther Wenman (1995 expedition members); Dr Ralph Manly (Kingston University); Richard Gibson, Simon Tonge, Paul Pearce-Kelly, Dave Clarke and Elspeth Chaplin (Zoological Society of London); John Hartley and Quentin M. Chumley Bloxam (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust); Steven North (Scottish Natural Heritage); David Bullock (English Nature); and Nick Arnold (Natural History Museum, London, UK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EcoHealth Alliance, 460 West 34th Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, USA

    Peter Daszak

  2. School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK

    Stanley J. Ball

  3. Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Daniel G. Streicker

  4. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Black River, Mauritius

    Carl G. Jones

  5. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK

    Carl G. Jones

  6. School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, London, E15 4LZ, UK

    Keith R. Snow

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  1. Peter Daszak
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Correspondence to Peter Daszak.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-011-9301-3

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Daszak, P., Ball, S.J., Streicker, D.G. et al. A new species of Caryospora Léger, 1904 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the endangered Round Island boa Casarea dussumieri (Schlegel) (Serpentes: Bolyeridae) of Round Island, Mauritius: an endangered parasite?. Syst Parasitol 78, 117–122 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-010-9280-9

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