EIMERIA SPECIES FROM SEROWS (CAPRICORNIS SPP.) IN JAPAN WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES

Fresh fecal samples from 35 Japanese serows Capricornis crispus (Temminck, 1845), and 5 Formosan serows Capricornis swinhoei Gray, 1862, were collected between October 1998 and March 1999. Eimeriid coccidians were found in 12 (34%) Japanese serows and in 1 (20%) Formosan serow. Three Eimeria species were found, and 2 are described here as new. The third species is consistent with the description of Eimeria kamoshika Inoue, 1989. Sporulated oocysts of 1 new species are broadly ellipsoidal, 20.7 × 16.8 μm (18–23 × 14–19 μm) with a length (L):width (W) ratio of 1.2 (1.1–1.4); these lack a micropyle (M) and oocyst residuum (OR) but 1–2 polar granules (PGs) are sometimes present. Sporocysts are elongate-ellipsoidal, 10.5 × 5.9 μm (9–13 × 5–7 μm), with a L/W ratio of 1.8 (1.5–2.4), and have a Stieda body (SB) and sporocyst residuum (SR). Oocysts of the second new species are broadly ovoidal, 28.2 × 22.0 μm (25–33 × 19–23 μm), with a L/W of 1.3 (1.1–1.5), and have a M at the slightly pointed end, but lack an OR and PG. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 12.9 × 8.1 μm (11–15 × 7–10), with a L/W of 1.6 (1.3–1.9), and have a SB and SR.