The Seville Lab

EIMERIA SPECIES (APICOMPLEXA: EIMERIIDAE) FROM ARCTIC GROUND SQUIRRELS (SPERMOPHILUS PARRYII) and Red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) IN ALASKA, U.S.A. AND SIBERIA, RUSSIA.

Robert S. Seville, Clint E. Oliver, Andrew J. Lynch*, Michelle C. Bryant, and Donald W. Duszynski*

Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming/ Casper College Center, Casper, Wyoming 82601.

ABSTRACT: One-hundred and thirty-six fecal samples from arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) collected in Alaska (N = 90) and Russia (N = 46) and from red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in Alaska (N = 35) were examined for the presence of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). Four species were recovered from arctic ground squirrels including: Eimeria callospermophili (prevalence = 18%); Eimeria cynomysis (23.5%); Eimeria lateralis (19%); and Eimeria morainensis (77%).  A single species, Eimeria tamiasciuri (91%), was recovered from red squirrels. Eimerians recovered from arctic ground squirrels represent new host records and the single species from red squirrels a new geographic record. Alaskan arctic ground squirrel prevalences were higher for E. callospermophili (Alaska = 22% vs. Russia = 9%), E. cynomysis (34% vs. 2%), and E. lateralis (27% vs. 4%) but not E. morainensis (78% vs. 76%).

This page compiled by R. Scott Seville ,

last update on 01/04/05