Observations on an Eimeria sp. (Apicomplexa) from the green kingfisher Chloroceryle americana (Gmelin, 1788) (Coraciiformes) in Southeastern Brazil: an example of how the ecological aspects of the host can be essential for the identification of its coccidians.

Parasitism in kingfishers is very little reported and predominantly related to hemoparasites, helminths, and ectoparasites. The present study provided a morphological and genotypic study of an Eimeria sp. recovered from a green kingfisher Chloroceryle americana (Gmelin, 1788) captured in the Marambaia Island, on the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil. The coccidial density, some morphological aspects of its oocysts, the molecular results, and, mainly, the ecological niche of C. americana in the mangrove of the Marambaia Island suggest that this coccidian species is a pseudoparasite.

Isospora leptopogoni n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the sepia-capped flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus Tschudi, 1846 (Passeriformes: Rhynchocyclidae) in South America.

Coccidian protozoan species recorded from flycatchers are few, but they have been described with a certain frequency in recent years. In this context, the present study describes a new Isospora sp. from sepia-capped flycatchers Leptopogon amaurocephalus Tschudi, 1846 captured in the Itatiaia National Park and in a reforestation area which is about 60 km away from the park boundaries, in addition to providing a molecular identification via sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Isospora leptopogoni n. sp. has oöcysts that are subspheroidal to ovoidal, measuring on average 22.0 × 19.7 µm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall, c.1.7 µm thick. The micropyle is delicate or inconspicuous. Oöcyst residuum is absent, but one to three polar granules are present. Sporocysts are lemon-shaped, measuring on average 14.7 × 9.3 µm, with a knob-like Stieda body and a rectangular to rounded sub-Stieda body. Sporocyst residuum is present, consisting of compactly bounded granules. Sporozoites are vermiform, with refractile bodies and nucleus. Isospora leptopogoni is different from other Isospora spp. mainly due to its lemon-shaped sporocysts, the presence of micropyle and details of Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies. Phylogenetic analysis placed I. leptopogoni close to other Isospora spp. recorded from phylogenetically related hosts and from the same biogeographic region. Finally, the recurrent finding of this coccidian species in the same L. amaurocephalus specimen in a specific locality in the Itatiaia National Park suggests that the dispersion of I. leptopogoni needs continuous transmissions between susceptible passerines as the area of movement of each L. amaurocephalus specimen appears to be quite small.

Isospora juruviarae n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from chivi vireos Vireo chivi (Vieillot, 1817) (Passeriformes: Vireonidae) in South America.

Chivi vireos Vireo chivi (Vieillot, 1817) are passerine birds widely distributed throughout Brazil, but mainly observed in the Atlantic Forest of the South and Southeast regions of the country. In this context, the current study identifies a new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 from V. chivi captured in the Marambaia Island, on the coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil. The oocysts of Isospora juruviarae Andrade & Berto n. sp. are subspheroidal to ovoidal, measuring on average 26 by 24 µm. Micropyle is absent or inconspicuous. Oocyst residuum absent, but polar granules are present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal with pointed posterior end, measuring on average 17 by × 11 µm. Stieda and Sub-Stieda bodies are present. Sporocyst residuum is present among the vermiform sporozoites, which have refractile bodies and nucleus. This morphology was different from the other Isospora spp. recorded in the same family, superfamily and parvorder as the host. Molecular identification was targeted by the amplification and sequencing of two different loci of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene and one locus of the 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S) gene. Phylogenetic analyses were not very efficient in forming monophyletic groups associated with host taxon, zoogeographical region or taxonomic character; however, they confirmed the identification as a new species through comparison with sequences from Isospora spp. of wild passerines. Finally, based on the morphological and molecular analyses of the oocysts recovered from the chivi vireo V. chivi in the current work, I. juruviarae is considered new to science, being the second species recorded in the host family Vireonidae and the first to have a supplementation by molecular identification.