A coccidian in haemogamasid mites; possible vectors of Elleipsisoma thomsoni Franca, 1912.

Haemogamasinae/Laelapidae mites (Haemogamasus hirsutus, H. nidi and Eulaelaps stabularis) collected from nests of the mole (Talpa europaea) contained developmental stages (isosporan-type oocysts and independently developing macro-and microgametocytes) of a coccidian. These stages were observed in the haemocoele of living infected mites, in wet preparations of crushed mites, and in histological sections of paraffin wax embedded mites. They included both unsporulated and sporulated oocysts; sporulation of the oocysts occurred within the mite. Descriptions of the sporogonic and gametogonic stages of this coccidian are given and compared with the suborders Adeleina and Eimeriina which either have developmental stages in invertebrates, isosporan-type oocysts or have been reported to be mechanically (passively) transmitted by mites. The possibility of the haemogamasid mites being the vector of Elleipsisoma thomsoni or other coccidian parasites is also discussed.