Isospora canaria Box, 1975 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from canaries Serinus canaria Linnaeus (Passeriformes: Fringillidae) in Brazil.

Isospora canaria Box, 1975 (Protozoa, Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) is reported and described from canaries Serinus canaria (Linnaeus) in southeast Brazil. Its oöcysts are subspheroidal to ellipsoidal, 24.4 × 22.2 µm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~1.2 µm. The micropyle and the oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. The sporocysts are lemon-shaped, 17.6 × 10.6 µm. The Stieda body is nipple-like, and substieda body is prominent and homogeneous. The sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules. The sporozoite has anterior and posterior refractile bodies and a nucleus. The report of this coccidium recovered from exotic canaries in South America is relevant to native passerines, mainly to Carduelis yarrellii, which are listed as vulnerable species by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).

Isolation and characterization of Cyniclomyces guttulatus (Robin) Van Der Walt and Scott, 1971 in dogs in Brazil.

Vegetative cells of an ascomycetous yeast, morphologically consistent with published descriptions of Cyniclomyces guttulatus, were observed in large numbers in the feces and stomach washes of three dogs with a recurrent medical history characterized by vomiting and diarrhea. Nucleotide sequence analysis of an approximately 600 base pair fragment of the variable D1/D2 domain of large subunit (26S) ribosomal DNA of a pure culture, isolated from a Siberian Husky, revealed 98-99 % homology to sequences deposited in the GenBank as C. guttulatus. These data represent the first observation of C. guttulatus in association with canine gastrointestinal illness in the southern hemisphere and add weight to the hypothesis that this yeast may act as an opportunistic pathogen of dogs. An extended examination of wet mounts and smears prepared from feces collected from 63 dogs with no clinical symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, identified C. gluttulatus in 14 (22.2 %) of the animals, albeit at lower numbers than in diseased dogs, indicating that this yeast species is widely distributed as a component of the normal microflora of the canine gastrointestinal tract.

Coccidia of New World passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes): a review of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 and Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae).

In the New World, the avian order Passeriformes comprises 47 families and 2,453 species, yet to date only 21 (45%) of the families and 58 (2%) of the species have been examined for coccidia, and from these only two species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 and 81 species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 have been described. This review contributes to our understanding of the morphology and systematics of coccidian parasites of passeriforms, providing a scientific basis for the identification of sporulated oöcysts recovered from the faeces of passerine birds from North, Central and South America. To this end, the coccidia were organised and grouped according to the family of the host, following the widely recognised concept of family-specificity and the updated systematics of the class Aves. Details of 83 eimeriid species are presented along with an illustration and tabulated data.

Isospora bocamontensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the yellow cardinal Gubernatrix cristata (Vieillot) (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in South America.

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is reported from the endangered yellow cardinal Gubernatrix cristata (Vieillot) in southern Brazil. Isospora bocamontensis n. sp. has oöcysts which are subspheroidal, measure 32.1 × 28.9 µm and have a smooth, bilayered wall c.1.5 µm thick. The micropyle and the oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is sometimes present. Its sporocysts are ellipsoidal and 17.3 × 12.2 µm in size and contain a half-moon-shaped Stieda body, a prominent, homogeneous substieda body; and a sporocyst residuum composed of a compact mass of granules. The sporozoites have one refractile body and a nucleus.

Isospora piacobrai n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the masked yellowthroat Geothlypis aequinoctialis (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Parulidae) in South America.

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) obtained from masked yellowthroat Geothlypis aequinoctialis (Gmelin) is reported from Brazil. Isospora piacobrai n. sp. has oöcysts which are subspheroidal to ovoidal, measure 15.8 x 10.5 microm and have a smooth, bilayered wall c. 1.2 microm thick. A micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. Its sporocysts are ovoidal and measure 15.8 x 10.5 microm. The Stieda body is knob-like and prominent, the substieda body large, trapezoidal and homogeneous, and the sporocyst residuum composed of granules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with one refractile body and a nucleus. This is the first description of an isosporoid coccidian infecting a bird of the family Parulidae.

New species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 and Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the short-crested flycatcher Myiarchus ferox (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in South America.

In the current study, two new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) obtained from short-crested flycatcher Myiarchus ferox (Gmelin) are reported from Brazil. Isospora feroxis n. sp. has oöcysts which are spheroidal to sub-spheroidal, 18.7 x 18.0 microm, with a smooth and bi-layered wall, c. 1.2 microm. The micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but two polar granules are present. Its sporocysts are broadly ellipsoidal and 11.7 x 8.5 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. A sporocyst residuum is present and the sporozoites have a refractile body and nucleus. Oöcysts of Eimeria sicki n. sp. are spheroidal to sub-spheroidal, 30.3 x 28.5 microm, with a smooth and bi-layered wall, c. 1.3 microm. The micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Its sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 18.4 x 10.0 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. A sporocyst residuum is present and sporozoites have a refractile body and nucleus.

Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verreaux (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in South America.

Three new coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verraux in Brazil are reported in the current study. Isospora frontalis n. sp. oöcysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 27.9 x 26.9 mum, with a smooth, bi-layered wall c.1.4 microm thick. A micropyle and an oöcyst residuum are absent, but polar granules are present. Sporocysts are elongate ellipsoidal, 19.6 x 11.1 microm. The Stieda body is knob-like and the substieda body is slight. The sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules, and the sporozoites are vermiform with a refractile body and a nucleus. Isospora teresopoliensis n. sp. oöcysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 25.7 x 24.3 microm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall 1.3 microm thick. A micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoid, 18.8 x 11.2 microm. The Stieda body is nipple-shaped and the substieda body is large and prominent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules, and the sporozoites are large and elongate, with a refractile body and nucleus. Oöcysts of Isospora chanchaoi n. sp. are spherical to sub-spherical or ovoid, 24.2 x 22.0 microm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall c.1.2 microm thick. Both a micropyle and an oöcyst residuum are absent, but one or two polar granules are present. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 16.1 x 10.3 microm. The Stieda body is nipple-shaped and the substieda body is small but prominent. The sporocyst residuum forms a compact mass of granules, and the sporozoites are large and elongate, with a refractile body and a nucleus.

Two new Isospora species from Brazilian tanager (Ramphocelus bresilius dorsalis) of South America.

Two new coccidian (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species from the Brazilian tanager Ramphocelus bresilius dorsalis are reported in the current study. Isospora cadimi n. sp. oocysts are spheroidal to sub-spheroidal, 24.2 x 22.9 microm, with a smooth and bi-layered wall, approximately 1.1 microm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are broadly ovoidal, 16.9 x 11.6 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocyst residuum is present and sporozoites have refractile body and nucleus. Isospora navarroi n. sp. oocysts are spheroidal to sub-spheroidal, 21.4 x 20.6 microm, with a smooth and bi-layered wall, approximately 1.1 microm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 16.1 x 10.2 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocyst residuum is present and sporozoites have a robust posterior refractile body.

[Distribution of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy cows at municipalities of Resende and Rio Claro in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Distribuição de anticorpos contra Neospora caninum em vacas leiteiras dos municípios de Resende e Rio Claro, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

This study aimed to verify the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy cows from municipalities of Resende and Rio Claro, both located at sulfluminense dairy belt. A total of 29 farms from Resende and 28 from Rio Claro were randomly selected. To evaluate the association between herds and animals against the etiological agent χ² tests were used. Seventy eight animals at Resende (25.74%, confidence intervals(IC) at 95%: 15.7-25.8%) had anti-N. caninum antibodies, while 53 animals (20.38%, IC 21-31.1%) at Rio Claro (p=0.16). No association between positive animals in relationship to municipalities was observed. When considered properties, 26 (89.7%, IC: 76, 3-94.9%) at Resende and 24 (85.71%, IC: 67.3-96%) at Rio Claro had at least a positive animal. This demonstrated that anti-N. caninum antibodies were observed among dairy cows at both municipalities. In spite of abortions were observed with relative frequency in endemic areas of N. caninum, they were not observed in the present study.