Eimeria chiropteri n.sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Saudi Arabian bat Pipistrellus kuhlii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae).

Oocysts of Eimeria chiropteri n.sp. are described from faeces of Pipistrellus kuhlii from Saudi Arabia. The sporulated oocyst of E. chiropteri is broadly ellipsoidal 23.5 x 20.6 (18.8 - 25.9 x 16.5 - 25.2) microm, and bilayered wall 1.2 (1.1 - 1.3) microm thick. Micropyle is absent, but a single, spherical polar body present. Oocyst residuum is present as a coarse granular sphere. Sporocyst is ovoid 10.8 x 7.5 (10.1 - 11.7 x 6.8 - 8.1). Stieda body is present, but sub and parastieda bodies are absent. Sporozoites are elongated laying head to tail in the sporocyst each with a large spherical refractile globule. E. chiropteri is the 4th species from the genus Eimeria detected in bats of the genus Pipistrellus.