Eimerian Guilds (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in Richardson's (Spermophilus richardsonii) and Wyoming (Spermophilus elegans) Ground Squirrels

Feces of Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) were examined to determine occurrence and prevalence of eimerian species and to compare eimerian guilds in these hosts to previously described guilds from Wyoming ground squirrels (Spermophilus elegans). Six species of Eimeria were collected from 100 Richardson's ground squirrels: Eimeria beecheyi (36% infected); Eimeria bilamellata (13%); Eimeria callospermophili-Eimeria morainensis complex (41%); Eimeria lateralis (6%); and Eimeria spermophili (9%). The species composition and prevalences were essentially identical in the 2 congeneric hosts. Three species were consistently more (>30%) and 3 were consistently less (