A New Species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from the Saffron Finch, Sicalis flaveola (Aves: Passeriformes) in Brazil

Purpose The present study describes a new species of Eimeria found in free-living S. flaveola that inhabit the city of Eugenópolis in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods Fecal samples from all captured birds were filtered through double gauze, mixed with 2.5% potassium dichromate (K 2 Cr 2 O 7 ), placed in a Petri dish and incubated at 23–28 °C until 70% of the oocysts were sporulated. Results Eimeria flaveola n. sp. from the saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola (Aves: Passeriformes), was described in Brazil. Sporulated oocysts are subspherical; 22.67 ± 1.57 (18.47–26.48) × 21.19 ± 1.42 (16.69–24.91) µm; with a shape-index of 1.07 ± 0.05 (1.00–1.25) µm and a smooth, bilayered wall, ~ 1.09 μm. A micropyle and an oocyst residuum are absent, but one polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 14.24 ± 1.71 (9.02–19.33) × 9.98 ± 1.02 (6.80–12.87) μm; with a shape-index of 1.43 ± 0.16 (0.74–2.11). The Stieda body is button-shaped; sub-Stieda body and para-Stieda absent. The sporocyst residuum is formed by a compact rounded mass of granules. The sporozoite is claviform, 11.53 µm in length and 2.84 µm in width, with a refractile body and a nucleus. Conclusions Based on its morphological and morphometric characteristics, we consider E. flaveola a newly identified species.