McAllister Chris T, Hnida John A
Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, Oklahoma 74745.
Department of Microbiology, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona 85308.
J Parasitol. 2019 Oct;105(5):693-696.
Barn swallows () are the most widespread swallow species in the world. However, little is known about the coccidian parasites of . Feces from a single nesting in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, were collected in May 2018 and examined for coccidia; the swallow was found to be passing a new species of . Oocysts of n. sp. are ellipsoidal with a smooth bi-layered wall, measure (L × W) 25.5 × 15.2 μm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.7; a micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but polar granule(s) are present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 12.8 × 6.5 μm, L/W 2.0; a nipple-like Stieda body is present, but sub-Stieda bodies and para-Stieda bodies are absent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of a compact spheroid with a dense, irregular mass of finer granules lying between and dispersed among the sporozoites. This is the first eimerian reported from and the family Hirundinidae, and only the fourth spp. known from passerine birds of the New World.
家燕是世界上分布最广的燕科物种。然而，关于家燕的球虫寄生虫却知之甚少。2018年5月，从俄克拉何马州麦柯廷县一个家燕巢穴收集了粪便样本并检查是否存在球虫；结果发现这只家燕感染了一种新的球虫物种。新种球虫卵囊呈椭圆形，壁光滑，双层结构，大小为（长×宽）25.5×15.2μm，长宽比为1.7；无微孔和卵囊残体，但有极粒。孢子囊呈椭圆形，大小为12.8×6.5μm，长宽比为2.0；有乳头状斯氏体，但无亚斯氏体和副斯氏体。孢子囊残体由一个紧密的球体组成，在子孢子之间和之中有密集、不规则的较细颗粒团块。这是首次报道的来自家燕和燕科的艾美耳球虫，也是新世界雀形目鸟类中已知的第四种艾美耳球虫。
