A new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in Ruppell's agama Agama rueppelli (Vaillant) (Sauria: Agamidae) from East Africa, with a review of this genus in agamid lizards

Coprological examinations of eight Ruppell's agamas Agama rueppelli (Vaillant) revealed the presence of a coccidium of the genus Isospora Schneider, 1881 that represents a previously undescribed species. Oocysts of Isospora farahi n. sp. are spherical or subspherical, 29.1 (26-31) x 28.8 (26-31) lm, with a shape-index of 1.01 (1-1.07). An oocyst residuum, polar granules and micropyle are absent. The oocyst wall is bilayered, brownish and smooth, c. 1.5-2 mu m thick. The sporocysts are oval, 16.6 (15-18) x 11.4 (11-12) lm, with a shape-index of 1.46 (1.25-1.64) and both Stieda and substieda bodies. A sporocyst residuum is present as medium-sized granules scattered irregularly among the sporozoites. The sporozoites are vermiform, with a large posterior spherical refractile body. Endogenous development is intranuclear in the epithelial cells of the small intestine. Sporulation is unknown, as oocysts were recovered from the faeces.