Caryospora varaniornati sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in the Nile monitor, Varanus (Polydaedalus) niloticus species complex
Modrý, D.; Slapeta, J.R.; Knotek, Z.; Koudela, B.
Folia Parasitologica 48(1): 7-10
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5683 PMID: 11266138 Document Number: 536710
Parasitological examination of two ornate Nile monitors Varanus ornatus (Daudin, 1803) imported from Benin revealed the presence of a new species of Caryospora. Oocysts of Caryospora varaniornati sp. n. are spherical to slightly subspherical, 12.0 (11-12.5) 1 μm; substieda body not visible. Experimental infection of a closely related host, Varanus niloticus (L.), did not lead to the oocyst excretion despite the fact that one of the experimentally inoculated monitors was immunosuppressed by dexamethasone. Histological examination did not reveal stages of coccidian development. Therefore, it is possible that C. varaniornati is strictly host specific.