EIMERIA SPP. (APICOMPLEXA: EIMERIIDAE) FROM THE PLATEAU PIKA, OCHOTONA CURZONIAE, FROM HAIBEI AREA, QINGHAI PROVINCE, CHINA, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES

Fifty-two fecal Samples from the Plateau pika, Ochotona curzoniae, collected in the Haibei Area, Qinghai Province, China, were examined I-or the presence of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). Five distinct morphotypes, all Eimeria species, were distinguished based oil the structure of their sporulated oocysts. Three of these included Eimeria banffensis, Eimeria calentinei, and Eimeria cryptobarretti, all of which have been described previously from other Ochotona species. We also studied 2 morphotypes that we feel have sufficient qualitative and quantitative characters to distinguish them front all previously described species; herein, we identify them as putative new species. Eimeria qinghuiensis n.sp. was found in 18/52 (35%) O. curzoniae. It has ovoidal oocysts with a 3-layered wall, with it rough Outermost layer and it micropyle, similar to 9 mu m wide, Sporulated oocysts are 37.2 X 27.2 (34-41 X 24-32) mu m; 1 polar granule is present, but all oocyst residuum is absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 16.6 X 9.8 (14-19 X 9-11) mu m with a Stieda body; sporocyst residuum and sporozoites have 2 refractile bodies. Eimeria haibeiensis n. sp. was found in 21/52 (40%) pikas. It has ellipsoidal to ovoidal oocysts, with a 2-layered smooth wall and it micropyle, 3.9 mu m wide. Oocysts are 22.2 X 16.2 (20-24 X 15-18) mu m; polar granule and oocyst residuum fire both absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 11.6 x 6.6 (10-13 x 5-7) mu m with a Stieda body; sporocyst residuum and sporozoites each have 2 refractile bodies, 1 at each end. The 5 eimerian species we discovered in O. curzoniae in China all represent new host and locality records.