Biomaterial Database

A new isosporan (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (Aves: Passeriformes: Hirundinidae: Hirundininae), in Oklahoma, USA. 2023

Chris T McAllister, and John A Hnida

Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, OK, 74745, USA. cmcallister@se.edu.

Compared to other commonly examined passerine birds for coccidian (Apicomplexa) parasites, little is available on the coccidia of birds of the family Hirundinidae, including barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). Feces was collected in May 2022 from two nesting H. rustica in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, USA; the samples contained oöcysts representing a new species of Isospora. Oöcysts of Isospora zimmermani n. sp. are subspheroidal to ovoidal with a smooth bi-layered wall, measure (L × W) 22.8 × 20.8 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1; a micropyle and oöcyst residuum were absent but polar granule(s) are present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal to ovoidal and measure 15.2 × 9.6 µm, L/W 1.6; a knob-like Stieda body and a rounded sub-Stieda body are present. The sporocyst residuum is composed of compact spheroid with a dense, irregular mass of finer granules lying between and dispersed among the sporozoites. The new species represents only the second isosporan reported from H. rustica but the first from the USA, and fourth species documented from the avian family Hirundinidae. This article was registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) as urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F1E71C3-56E8-4EA7-A9B0-1E585FAA9DE0.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007549	Isospora	A genus of protozoan parasites found in the intestines of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, including man. The oocysts produce two sporocysts, each with four sporozoites. Many species are parasitic in wild and domestic animals.	Isosporas
D009825	Oklahoma	State bounded on the north by Kansas, on the east by Missouri and Arkansas, on the south by Texas, and on the west by New Mexico.
D005243	Feces	Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D046109	Passeriformes	A widely distributed order of perching BIRDS, including more than half of all bird species.	Passerine Birds,Perching Birds,Bird, Passerine,Passerine Bird,Perching Bird
D046388	Swallows	The family Hirundinidae, comprised of small BIRDS that hunt flying INSECTS while in sustained flight.	Hirundinidae,Barn Swallow,Barn Swallows,Swallow, Barn,Swallows, Barn
D033661	Oocysts	Zygote-containing cysts of sporozoan protozoa. Further development in an oocyst produces small individual infective organisms called SPOROZOITES. Then, depending on the genus, the entire oocyst is called a sporocyst or the oocyst contains multiple sporocysts encapsulating the sporozoites.	Sporocysts,Oocyst,Sporocyst