Eimeria Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Infecting Peromyscus Rodents in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico with Description of a New Species

Of 198 deermice (Peromyscus spp.) collected from various localities in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, 106 (54%) had eimerian oocysts in their feces when examined. These included 50 of 106 (47%) Peromyscus truei, 34 of 54 (63%) Peromyscus maniculatus, 4 of 17 (24%) Peromyscus leucopus, and 18 of 21 (86%) Peromyscus eremicus. The following Eimeria were identified from infected mice: Eimeria arizonensis and Eimeria langebarteli from P. truei; E. arizonensis, Eimeria peromysci, and Eimeria delicata from P. maniculatus; E. arizonensis and Eimeria lachrymalis n. sp. from P. eremicus; and E. langebarteli from P. leucopus. Of the 106 Peromyscus found positive for Eimeria, 97 (91.5%) harbored only a single eimerian species at the time of examination. Sporulated oocysts of E. lachrymalis n. sp. were ellipsoid, 27-35 x 17-21 (30.8 ± 1.7 x 19.1-0.9) µm, possessed a smooth wall and one polar granule, but lacked a micropyle and an oocyst residuum. Sporocysts were teardrop-shaped, 9-13 x 6-10 (10.9 ± 0.9 x 7.9 ± 0.5) µm, and had a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum, but no substieda body. Prepatent periods in experimental infections were 3-6 days after inoculation (DAI) for E. arizonensis (hosts: P. eremicus, P. maniculatus, P. truei); 4-5 DAI for E. peromysci (host: P. maniculatus); 6-9 DAI for E. langebarteli (hosts: P. truei, P. leucopus); and 8-10 DAI for E. lachrymalis (host: P. eremicus). Patency in these infections lasted 6-11 days for E. arizonensis, 5-10 days for E. peromysci, 14-40 + days for E. langebarteli, and 19-50 + days for E. lachrymalis. Eimeria lachrymalis appears to produce occult infections in P. eremicus that can be reactivated upon inoculation of the host with E. arizonensis.