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Caryospora telescopis sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Cat snake, Telescopus fallax (Serpentes: Colubridae), and Caryospora spec. from the West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi (Serpentes: Viperidae)
Arch. Protistenkd. 132 (1986): 93-99 VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag Jena
Institut fur Angewandte Zoologie, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin (West)
Caryospora telescopis Sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Cat snake, Telescopus fallax (Serpentes: Colubridae), and Caryospora spec. from the West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi (Serpentes: Viperidae) By
FRANZ-RAINER MATt:SCHKA
With 6 Figures
Summary Oocysts ofa new coccidian parasite, Caryospora telescopis, sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from the feces of a Cat snake, Tele8copu8 jallax, from Greece, and their morphology is compared to that of similar Caryospora species reported from ophidian hosts. The spherical oocysts of Caryospora telescopis measure 21.5 (19.1-23.5) {-lm and do not possess micropyle and oocyst residuum. Sporocysts are ovoid, 11.4 (10.3-11.8) ftm in width by 15 (14.7-16.2) {-lm in length, with prominent reel shaped Stieda body as well as substieda body. Sporocyst residuum present and consisting of numerous granules. The sporulation was completed in 48 to 72 h at 23 ± 2 aC. This is the first account of the genus Caryospora from the Cat snake, Telescopus jallax. In addition the finding of Caryospora oocysts excreted by the \Vest Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi, is reported and discussed.
Introduction Coccidian species of the genus Caryospora LEGER, 1904 are characterized by monosporocystic, octozoic oocysts. Parasites of the genus are only reported from birds, lizards and snakes. A total of 19 species of Caryospora has been described from ophidian hosts, including the species considered herein as new, but none from the Cat snake, Telescopus fallax (MATUSCHKA 1982, 1984a, b; UPTON et al. 1984a). In this paper, the oocyst of the new species Caryospora telescopis is described and compared morphologically with similar species of Caryospora infecting snakes. Additionally, the finding of Caryospora oocysts in the feces from the West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi, is reported and discussed.
Materials and Methods A newly imported adult female of the Cat snake, Telescopu8 jallax, from Greece, was the source of the Caryospora oocysts. Fecal samples were screened routinely for parasites using ZnCl 2 jNaCI flotation technique. Unsporulated oocysts were collected from the feces by centrifugation with the flotation solution. For sporulation the oocysts were washed in tap water and kept at room temperature (23 ± 2°C) in petri dishes with a thin layer of 2.5 % (wjv) solution of potassium dichromate. Oocysts were examined and photographed using a Leitz Dialux 22 with planapochromatic objectives. Measurements were made with a calibrated ocular micrometer. Photographs were taken using Ilford Pan F 135 films.
94
F.-E.
MATUSCHKA
Fecal samples containing unsporulated Oaryospora oocysts from a wild caught West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi, were brought to us for a routine examination. The oocysts were harvested and treated as mentioned above.
Description of Oocysts Caryospora telescopis sp. n. (Figs. 1-3) Type host: European Cat snake, Telescopus tallax. Type locality: Greece. Etymology: The new species name reflects the generic name of the host. Site of infection: Unknown; oocysts recovered from feces. Sporulation time: Oocysts were passed unsporulated in feces and were fully sporulated after about 48 h in 2.5 % K 2 Cr2 0 7 at 23 ± 2 °C. Exogenous stages: Unsporulated or sporulated oocysts typically spherical, 21.5 (19.1-23.5) flm (n = 10) in diameter, micropyle and oocyst residuum lacking; oocyst wall smooth, bilayered by light microscopy and a bout 1flm thick; sporulated oocyst with only a single ovoid sporocyst containing characteristic arrangement of the genus, eight sporozoites and sporocyst residuum, composed of a cluster of several spherical bodies. Sporocyst with smooth wall measuring 11.4 (10.3-11.8)flm in width by 15(14.7-16.2)flm in length. Stieda body present, shaped like a reel for thread, substieda body present. Caryospora spec. (Figs. 4-6) Type host: West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi. Type locality: From the western parts of the Caucasus in Turkey. Etymology: No new name is given for the reasons discussed below. Site of infection: Unknown; oocysts recovered from feces. Sporulation time: Oocysts were excreted unsporulated in feces and were fully sporulated after ca. 48-72 h at 23 ± 2 °C in 2.5 % K 2 Cr2 0 7 • Exogenous stages: Oocysts typically spherical, with smooth outer surface averaged 12.7 (l0.9-14.0)flm (n = 40) in diameter; micropyle and oocyst residuum absent. Oocyst wall approximately Iflm thick, bilayered by light microscopy, polar granule present. Sporulated oocyst with a single ovoid sporocyst. After sporulation sporocysts contain eight sporozoites. Sporocyst smooth, thin walled, measuring 11.7 flm in length by 8flm in width. Stieda body and substieda body are present. Sporocyst residuum as a cluster of several spherical bodies completely filling the sporocyst with eight sporozoites.
Figs. 1-3. Photomicrographs of oocysts of Oaryospora telescopis from Telescopis fallax. X 2,800. Fig. 1. Unsporulated oocyst of O. telescopis from naturally infected T. fallax in sporont stage. Fig. 2. Sporulated oocyst of C. telescopis from naturally infected T.fallax, SIde view. Fig. 3. Sporulated oocyst of C. telescopis from naturally infected T. fallax, end-on view. Figs. 4-6. Photomicrographs of oocysts of Caryospora spec. from naturally infected Vipera palaestinae. X 2,800. Fig. 4. Sporulated oocyst of Oaryospora spec. from naturally infected V. palaestinae. Fig. 5. Unsporulated oocyst of Oaryospora spec. from naturally infected V. palaestinae in sporont stage.
Caryospora telescopis, Telescopus fallax and Vipel'a kaznakovi
1
95
2
4
S8l 5
ow' 6
Fig. 6. Unsporulated oocyst of Caryos]Jora spec. from naturally infected V. palaestinae in the process of dividing to form sporozoites. Abbreviations: OW - Oocyst wall; SBL - Sporoblast; SB - Stieda body; SP SR - Sporocyst residuum; SSB - Substieda body; SW - Sporocyst wall.
Sporozoite;
13.0x 17.0 10.3-14.7 x 13.2-19.1
20-22
16,2-27,9
22.4
C. ll?'asil'icnsis
C. colub1'is
C. comllae
14.8 X 18.3
ANDERSON HOARE
MATT;SCHKA
Psammophis sibilans
LEGER BRAY
Vipem. a.•pis Psammophis sibilans phillipsi
14.5 x 20.8
C. simplex
ot al. (1968)
BRAY
this paper this paper
Coluber ravergieri Telc<,cop1Is Ja llax Vipera kaznakovi
10-13.3
11.4 X 15 8xl1.7
15-18
21.5
12.7
C. wcyerae
C. zuckermanae
C. telescopis sp. n.
C(wyospo?'(J, sp.
(1960)
(1960)
8-12
10-Ui
14.9 x 16.1
(1904,1911)
(1982)
(1933)
(1960) BRAY
Naja nigricollis Psmnmophis sibilans phillipsi
lU'x11.2
15.1
26.8 X 29.1
C. najae
C.psammophi
C.legcri
Lampmpeltis c. calligaster
19-26 x 21-30
C. lampropeltis
(1939)
11.2-13.6x 16.4-19.2
MATSlTBAYASHI
12.3xI7.1
23.3
C. jaramca e
CARINI
C. japon'icum
(1937)
ot al. (198::1)
RZErCZYK
BRAY
(1960)
UrTON
(1984b)
Psammophis sibilans phillipsi
Elaphe ob801eta
and
LAINSON
(1984a)
(1967)
Natrix t'igrina
12.5x In.5
CANNON
CANNON
Bothmps ja1'(t?'l/ca
C, hermae
Dend1'elaphis punctulatu8
Demansia psammophis
MATT;SCHKA
MATUSCHKA
1.5 X 9.5
20.n X 22.3
C. duszynshi
11.7x14.8
10.8 X 13.1
Coluber vi1"idiJlavus Corallus caninus
(1932); (1973)
CARINI SHAW
(1982)
(1976)
ancl
CHRISTIANflEN
WACHA
MANDAL
18.6
24.3 X 25.7
O. dendrelaph'is
13.1 X 19.1
Phylod1'yas aestivnm
C1'otalus horridus SiSt1'Ur11S catenatus
Enhycl?'is enhyd1'is
Aut.hor·s
1:3-14
19.8 X 20.4
20.7 X 21.4
C. demansiae
1:3,5 X 19.0 7,7xlO.7
I
:~.2
21.ii
C. bigcneticfI
Sporooyst size (1 1m )
Oooyst, "'i7.C
(' 1m )
C. benJalensis
Name
Table 1. Known specie", of tho genus Caryospom from aphid ian hosts
(1974)
and
Garyospora telescopis, Telcscopus fallax and Vipera kaznakovi
97
Remarks and Discussion Among the 19 species of Caryospora occurring in ophidian hosts, Caryospora tele8copis most closely resembles only seven of these species concerning the size of the oocyst as well as of the sporocysts. One of these species, C. bengalensis, from Enhydris enhydris, a fresh water snake, has the same mean of oocyst size as C. telescopis it differs, however, from C. telescopis in possessing a micropyle and considerably larger sporocysts. C. brasiliensis, C. hermae as well as C. corallae have larger sporocysts than C. tele8copis. The oocysts of C. hermae are always subspherical. The sporocysts of C. demansiae are smaller and the oocysts are discharged sporulated while the oocysts and sporocysts of C. lamp1'Opeltis are larger than those of C. telescopis. C. telescopis differs significantly in morphological appearance of the oocyst wall when compared to that of C. brasiliensis as well as to that of C. lampropeltis. The oocyst wall of C. brasiliensis is trilayered with a striated middle layer and the oocyst wall of C. lampropeltis has a finely pitted outer wall while it appears smooth in C. telescopis. The oocysts and sporocysts of all other species are evidently larger or smaller than those of C. telescopis. In addition the differences in hosts and geographical locations distinguish C. telescopis from all other hitherto described Caryospora from snakes indicating that C. telescopis should be considered as a new species (compare Table 1). Concerning the Caryospora oocysts found in the feces of Vipera kaznakovi an identification as Caryospora simplex is at first sight quite obvious and fits well the first description of C. simplex from Vipera aspis in France (LEGER 1904, 1911). GALLI-VALERIO (1929) also mentioned the finding of C. simplex in V. aspis. The measurement of oocysts, however, that he reported differs considerably from the first data given by LEGER and later by LAVIER (1939), and UPTON et al. (1984b). The later authors described oocysts from Vipera xantina as C. simplex, giving the first account of supposed C. simplex in a host other than V. aspis. Recently, several authors (STOCKDALE and CAWTHORN 1981; CAWTHORK and STOCKDALE 1982 ; WACHA and CHRISTIANSEN 1982; UPTON et al. 1983) reported heteroxenous life cycles for three Caryospora species. The new findings demonstrating possible intermediate hosts in three species of Caryospora, suggest that a heteroxenous life cycle may be a feature common to some species of the genus and also may help to understand how carnivorous hosts get infected. Failures to infect laboratory mice with C. najae and lizards and laboratory mice with C. colubris and C. corallae in a preliminary attempt (MATUSCHKA, unpublished data) as well as failures to infect laboratory mice with C. duszynskii by UPTON et al. (1984a) in a similar way as reported by WACHA and CHRISTIANSEN (1982) and UPTON et al. (1984 b) may be due to the possibility that some species of Caryospora are not heteroxenous if not animals other than lizards and/or mice serve as secondary hosts or that the doses were not appropriate to detect the parasites. However, concerning C. colubris the inoculated lizards and mice were fed to the snakes again without resulting in a infection of the snakes (MATUSCHKA, unpublished data). With regard to the reported findings and the missing attempts to transmit Caryospora oocysts designated as C. simplex from V. xantina to V. aspis or vice versa, the designation as C. simplex should be relinquished. For the same reasons the Caryospora oocysts described herein from the feces of V. kaznakovi are not classified as C. simplex, as for instance in Sarcocystis or other Eimeriidae even morphologically identical exogenous stages may belong to completely different species or genera as recently demonstrated by HEYDORN and UNTERHOLZNER (1983) and MATUSCHKA and HAFNER (1984). 7 Arch. Protistenkd. Bd. 132
98
F.-R. MATUSCHKA
Zusammenfassung Aus dem Kat einer aus Griechenland importiertcn Katzennatter, Telescopus jallax, werden die Oozysten einer neuen Kokzidienart, Caryospora telescopis, sp. n. beschrieben. Die Morphologie del' neuen Spezies wird mit den Caryospora-Arten, die von Schlangen bekannt sind, verglichen. Die runden Oozysten von Caryospora telescopis messen 21,5 (19,1-23,5) pm und besitzen wedel' eine Mikropyle noch einen Restkorper. Die ovoiden Sporozysten sind 11,4 (10,3-11,8) pm breit und 15 (14,7-16,2) 11m lang, haben einen Stiedakorper dessen Form einer Garnspule ahnelt und einen Substiedakorper. Del' Restkorper del' Sporozyste besteht aus zahlreichen Granula. Innerhalb von 48 bis 72 h erfolgt bei 23 ± 2 °C die Sporulation. Caryospora telescopis ist die erste Caryospo1'llArt, die von del' Europaischen Katzennatter, Telescopus jallax, beschrieben wird. Das Vorkommen von Caryospora-Oozysten im Kot einer Westkaukasischen Viper, Vipem kaznakovi, wird ebenfalls zum ersten Mal berichtet und besprochen.
Literature ANDERSON, D. R., DUSZYNSKI, D. W., and MARQUARDT, W. C. (1968): Three new Coccidia (Protozoa: Telespora) from kingsnakes, Lampropeltis spp., in Illinois, with a redescription of Eimeria zamensis PHISALIX, 1921. J. Parasitol. 54: 577-581. BRAY, R. S. (1960): On the parasitic protozoa of Liberia. III. Three new species of Caryospom LEGER, 1904, from the hissing snake Psammophis sibilans phillipsi and a note on a Caryospora in Colube1' ravergieri nummijer from Israel. J. Protozool. 7: 314-320. CANNON, L. R. G. (1967): Caryospora demansiae sp. nov. (Sporozoa: Eimeriidae) from the Australian snake Demansia psammophis (Elapidae). Parasitology 57: 221-226. - and RZEPCZYK, C. M. (1974): A new species of Caryospora LEGER, 1904 (Sporozoa: Eimeriidae) from an Australian snake. Parasitology 69: 197-200. CARINI, A. (1932): Caryospora brasiliensis n. sp. parasita do intestino da cobra verde Chlorosoma aestivum. Recta. Bio!. Hyg. 3: 85-87. - (1939): Sobre uma cariospora da Jararaca. Arch. BioI. S. Paulo 23: 84-85. CAWTHORN, R. J., and STOCKDALE, P. H. G. (1982): The developmental cycle of Caryospora bubonis 1981 (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in the great horned owl, Bubo virginianus (GMELIN). Can. J. Zool. 60: 152-157. GALLI-VALERIO, B. (1929) : Notes de Parasitologie. Zentralbl. Bakteriol. 1. Abt. Orig. A. Med. Mikrobiol. Infektionskr. Parasitol. 14: 54-59. HEYDORN, A. 0., und UNTERHOLZNER, J. (1983): Zur Entwicklung von Sarcocystis hircicanis n. sp. Ber!. Miinch. Tierarzt!. Wschr. 96: 275-282. HOARE, C. A. (1933): Studies on some new ophidian and avian coccidia from Uganda, with a revision of the classification of the Eimeriidae. Parasitology 25: 359-388. LAINSON, R., and SHAW, J. J. (1973): Coccidia of Brazilian snakes, Isospora decipiens, Eimeria micruri, E.liophi and E. leimadophi spp. n., with redescriptions of Caryospora brasiliensis CARINI, 1932 and Eimeria poecilogyri CARINI, 1933. J. Protozoo!. 20: 358-367. LAVIER, G. (1939): Sur une coccidie atypique de Vipera aspis. Ann. Parasito!. Hum. Compo 17: 37-44. LEGER, L. (1904): Protozoaires parasites des viperes. Bull. Ass. Franc. Avanc. 9: 268. - (1911): Caryospora simplex, coccidie monosporee et la classification des cocci dies. Arch. Protistenkd. 22: 71-88. MANDAL, R. (1976): Caryospora bengalensis sp. n. and Eimeria jibrilosa sp. n., new coccidia (Protozoa: Eucoccidia) from a fresh water snake, Enhydris enhydris (SCHNEIDER). Acta Protozoo!. IS: 405-410. MATSUBAYASHI, H. (1937): Studies on parasitic protozoa in Japan. II. Coccidia parasitic in snakes; with special remarks on Tyzzeria (Koidzumiella) natrix, parasitic in N atrix tigrina. Annat. Zool. Jap. 16: 225-275. MATUSCHKA, F.-R. (1982): Caryospora najae sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Sporozoea, Eimeriidae) from the spitting cobra, Naja nigricollis pallida (Serpentes: Elapidae). J. Parasito!. 68: 1149-1153. (1984 a): Description of Caryospora colubris sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the western whip snake, Coluber viridijlavus (Serpentes: Colubridae). Can. J. Zool. 62: 1525-1527.
Oaryospora telescopis, Telescopus faUax and Vipera kaznakovi
99
(1984 b): Oaryospora corallae n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Sporozoea, Eimeriidae) from the Emerald tree boa Oorallus caninus (Serpentes: Biodae). J. Protozool. 31: 358-359. and HAFNER, U. (1984): Cyclic transmission of an African Besnoitia species by snakes of the genus Bitis to several rodents. Z. Parasitenkd. 70: 471-476. STOCKDALE, P. H. G., and CAWTHORN, R. J. (1981): The coccidian Om'yospoTa bubonis in the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus). J. Protozool. 28: 255--257. UPTON, S. J., ERNST, J. V., BARNARD, S. M., and CURRENT, W. L. (1983): Redescription of the oocysts of Oaryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from an Ottoman viper, Vipera xanthina xanthina. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. 102: 258-263. CURRENT, W. L., and BARNARD, S. M. (1984a): A new species of Oaryospora (Apicomplexa: Eimeriorina) from Elaphe spp. (Serpentes: Colubridae) of the Southeastern and Central United States. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. 103: 240-244. - ERNST,J. V., and BARNARD, S. M. (1984b): Extraintestinal development of Oaryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in experimentally infected mice, Mus musculus. J. Protozool. 31: 392-398. WACHA, R. S., and CHRISTIANSEN, J. L. (1982): Development of Oaryospora bigenetica n. sp. (Apicomp1exa: Eimeriidae) in rattlesnakes and laboratory mice. J. Protozool. 29: 272-278. Author's address: Priv.·Doz. Dr. F.-R. }IATUSCHKA, Institut fUr Angewandte Zoologie, Freie Universitiit Berlin, Haderslebener StraJ3e 9, Berlin (West) 41.
7·
Institut fur Angewandte Zoologie, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin (West)
Caryospora telescopis Sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Cat snake, Telescopus fallax (Serpentes: Colubridae), and Caryospora spec. from the West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi (Serpentes: Viperidae) By
FRANZ-RAINER MATt:SCHKA
With 6 Figures
Summary Oocysts ofa new coccidian parasite, Caryospora telescopis, sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from the feces of a Cat snake, Tele8copu8 jallax, from Greece, and their morphology is compared to that of similar Caryospora species reported from ophidian hosts. The spherical oocysts of Caryospora telescopis measure 21.5 (19.1-23.5) {-lm and do not possess micropyle and oocyst residuum. Sporocysts are ovoid, 11.4 (10.3-11.8) ftm in width by 15 (14.7-16.2) {-lm in length, with prominent reel shaped Stieda body as well as substieda body. Sporocyst residuum present and consisting of numerous granules. The sporulation was completed in 48 to 72 h at 23 ± 2 aC. This is the first account of the genus Caryospora from the Cat snake, Telescopus jallax. In addition the finding of Caryospora oocysts excreted by the \Vest Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi, is reported and discussed.
Introduction Coccidian species of the genus Caryospora LEGER, 1904 are characterized by monosporocystic, octozoic oocysts. Parasites of the genus are only reported from birds, lizards and snakes. A total of 19 species of Caryospora has been described from ophidian hosts, including the species considered herein as new, but none from the Cat snake, Telescopus fallax (MATUSCHKA 1982, 1984a, b; UPTON et al. 1984a). In this paper, the oocyst of the new species Caryospora telescopis is described and compared morphologically with similar species of Caryospora infecting snakes. Additionally, the finding of Caryospora oocysts in the feces from the West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi, is reported and discussed.
Materials and Methods A newly imported adult female of the Cat snake, Telescopu8 jallax, from Greece, was the source of the Caryospora oocysts. Fecal samples were screened routinely for parasites using ZnCl 2 jNaCI flotation technique. Unsporulated oocysts were collected from the feces by centrifugation with the flotation solution. For sporulation the oocysts were washed in tap water and kept at room temperature (23 ± 2°C) in petri dishes with a thin layer of 2.5 % (wjv) solution of potassium dichromate. Oocysts were examined and photographed using a Leitz Dialux 22 with planapochromatic objectives. Measurements were made with a calibrated ocular micrometer. Photographs were taken using Ilford Pan F 135 films.
94
F.-E.
MATUSCHKA
Fecal samples containing unsporulated Oaryospora oocysts from a wild caught West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi, were brought to us for a routine examination. The oocysts were harvested and treated as mentioned above.
Description of Oocysts Caryospora telescopis sp. n. (Figs. 1-3) Type host: European Cat snake, Telescopus tallax. Type locality: Greece. Etymology: The new species name reflects the generic name of the host. Site of infection: Unknown; oocysts recovered from feces. Sporulation time: Oocysts were passed unsporulated in feces and were fully sporulated after about 48 h in 2.5 % K 2 Cr2 0 7 at 23 ± 2 °C. Exogenous stages: Unsporulated or sporulated oocysts typically spherical, 21.5 (19.1-23.5) flm (n = 10) in diameter, micropyle and oocyst residuum lacking; oocyst wall smooth, bilayered by light microscopy and a bout 1flm thick; sporulated oocyst with only a single ovoid sporocyst containing characteristic arrangement of the genus, eight sporozoites and sporocyst residuum, composed of a cluster of several spherical bodies. Sporocyst with smooth wall measuring 11.4 (10.3-11.8)flm in width by 15(14.7-16.2)flm in length. Stieda body present, shaped like a reel for thread, substieda body present. Caryospora spec. (Figs. 4-6) Type host: West Caucasian viper, Vipera kaznakovi. Type locality: From the western parts of the Caucasus in Turkey. Etymology: No new name is given for the reasons discussed below. Site of infection: Unknown; oocysts recovered from feces. Sporulation time: Oocysts were excreted unsporulated in feces and were fully sporulated after ca. 48-72 h at 23 ± 2 °C in 2.5 % K 2 Cr2 0 7 • Exogenous stages: Oocysts typically spherical, with smooth outer surface averaged 12.7 (l0.9-14.0)flm (n = 40) in diameter; micropyle and oocyst residuum absent. Oocyst wall approximately Iflm thick, bilayered by light microscopy, polar granule present. Sporulated oocyst with a single ovoid sporocyst. After sporulation sporocysts contain eight sporozoites. Sporocyst smooth, thin walled, measuring 11.7 flm in length by 8flm in width. Stieda body and substieda body are present. Sporocyst residuum as a cluster of several spherical bodies completely filling the sporocyst with eight sporozoites.
Figs. 1-3. Photomicrographs of oocysts of Oaryospora telescopis from Telescopis fallax. X 2,800. Fig. 1. Unsporulated oocyst of O. telescopis from naturally infected T. fallax in sporont stage. Fig. 2. Sporulated oocyst of C. telescopis from naturally infected T.fallax, SIde view. Fig. 3. Sporulated oocyst of C. telescopis from naturally infected T. fallax, end-on view. Figs. 4-6. Photomicrographs of oocysts of Caryospora spec. from naturally infected Vipera palaestinae. X 2,800. Fig. 4. Sporulated oocyst of Oaryospora spec. from naturally infected V. palaestinae. Fig. 5. Unsporulated oocyst of Oaryospora spec. from naturally infected V. palaestinae in sporont stage.
Caryospora telescopis, Telescopus fallax and Vipel'a kaznakovi
1
95
2
4
S8l 5
ow' 6
Fig. 6. Unsporulated oocyst of Caryos]Jora spec. from naturally infected V. palaestinae in the process of dividing to form sporozoites. Abbreviations: OW - Oocyst wall; SBL - Sporoblast; SB - Stieda body; SP SR - Sporocyst residuum; SSB - Substieda body; SW - Sporocyst wall.
Sporozoite;
13.0x 17.0 10.3-14.7 x 13.2-19.1
20-22
16,2-27,9
22.4
C. ll?'asil'icnsis
C. colub1'is
C. comllae
14.8 X 18.3
ANDERSON HOARE
MATT;SCHKA
Psammophis sibilans
LEGER BRAY
Vipem. a.•pis Psammophis sibilans phillipsi
14.5 x 20.8
C. simplex
ot al. (1968)
BRAY
this paper this paper
Coluber ravergieri Telc<,cop1Is Ja llax Vipera kaznakovi
10-13.3
11.4 X 15 8xl1.7
15-18
21.5
12.7
C. wcyerae
C. zuckermanae
C. telescopis sp. n.
C(wyospo?'(J, sp.
(1960)
(1960)
8-12
10-Ui
14.9 x 16.1
(1904,1911)
(1982)
(1933)
(1960) BRAY
Naja nigricollis Psmnmophis sibilans phillipsi
lU'x11.2
15.1
26.8 X 29.1
C. najae
C.psammophi
C.legcri
Lampmpeltis c. calligaster
19-26 x 21-30
C. lampropeltis
(1939)
11.2-13.6x 16.4-19.2
MATSlTBAYASHI
12.3xI7.1
23.3
C. jaramca e
CARINI
C. japon'icum
(1937)
ot al. (198::1)
RZErCZYK
BRAY
(1960)
UrTON
(1984b)
Psammophis sibilans phillipsi
Elaphe ob801eta
and
LAINSON
(1984a)
(1967)
Natrix t'igrina
12.5x In.5
CANNON
CANNON
Bothmps ja1'(t?'l/ca
C, hermae
Dend1'elaphis punctulatu8
Demansia psammophis
MATT;SCHKA
MATUSCHKA
1.5 X 9.5
20.n X 22.3
C. duszynshi
11.7x14.8
10.8 X 13.1
Coluber vi1"idiJlavus Corallus caninus
(1932); (1973)
CARINI SHAW
(1982)
(1976)
ancl
CHRISTIANflEN
WACHA
MANDAL
18.6
24.3 X 25.7
O. dendrelaph'is
13.1 X 19.1
Phylod1'yas aestivnm
C1'otalus horridus SiSt1'Ur11S catenatus
Enhycl?'is enhyd1'is
Aut.hor·s
1:3-14
19.8 X 20.4
20.7 X 21.4
C. demansiae
1:3,5 X 19.0 7,7xlO.7
I
:~.2
21.ii
C. bigcneticfI
Sporooyst size (1 1m )
Oooyst, "'i7.C
(' 1m )
C. benJalensis
Name
Table 1. Known specie", of tho genus Caryospom from aphid ian hosts
(1974)
and
Garyospora telescopis, Telcscopus fallax and Vipera kaznakovi
97
Remarks and Discussion Among the 19 species of Caryospora occurring in ophidian hosts, Caryospora tele8copis most closely resembles only seven of these species concerning the size of the oocyst as well as of the sporocysts. One of these species, C. bengalensis, from Enhydris enhydris, a fresh water snake, has the same mean of oocyst size as C. telescopis it differs, however, from C. telescopis in possessing a micropyle and considerably larger sporocysts. C. brasiliensis, C. hermae as well as C. corallae have larger sporocysts than C. tele8copis. The oocysts of C. hermae are always subspherical. The sporocysts of C. demansiae are smaller and the oocysts are discharged sporulated while the oocysts and sporocysts of C. lamp1'Opeltis are larger than those of C. telescopis. C. telescopis differs significantly in morphological appearance of the oocyst wall when compared to that of C. brasiliensis as well as to that of C. lampropeltis. The oocyst wall of C. brasiliensis is trilayered with a striated middle layer and the oocyst wall of C. lampropeltis has a finely pitted outer wall while it appears smooth in C. telescopis. The oocysts and sporocysts of all other species are evidently larger or smaller than those of C. telescopis. In addition the differences in hosts and geographical locations distinguish C. telescopis from all other hitherto described Caryospora from snakes indicating that C. telescopis should be considered as a new species (compare Table 1). Concerning the Caryospora oocysts found in the feces of Vipera kaznakovi an identification as Caryospora simplex is at first sight quite obvious and fits well the first description of C. simplex from Vipera aspis in France (LEGER 1904, 1911). GALLI-VALERIO (1929) also mentioned the finding of C. simplex in V. aspis. The measurement of oocysts, however, that he reported differs considerably from the first data given by LEGER and later by LAVIER (1939), and UPTON et al. (1984b). The later authors described oocysts from Vipera xantina as C. simplex, giving the first account of supposed C. simplex in a host other than V. aspis. Recently, several authors (STOCKDALE and CAWTHORN 1981; CAWTHORK and STOCKDALE 1982 ; WACHA and CHRISTIANSEN 1982; UPTON et al. 1983) reported heteroxenous life cycles for three Caryospora species. The new findings demonstrating possible intermediate hosts in three species of Caryospora, suggest that a heteroxenous life cycle may be a feature common to some species of the genus and also may help to understand how carnivorous hosts get infected. Failures to infect laboratory mice with C. najae and lizards and laboratory mice with C. colubris and C. corallae in a preliminary attempt (MATUSCHKA, unpublished data) as well as failures to infect laboratory mice with C. duszynskii by UPTON et al. (1984a) in a similar way as reported by WACHA and CHRISTIANSEN (1982) and UPTON et al. (1984 b) may be due to the possibility that some species of Caryospora are not heteroxenous if not animals other than lizards and/or mice serve as secondary hosts or that the doses were not appropriate to detect the parasites. However, concerning C. colubris the inoculated lizards and mice were fed to the snakes again without resulting in a infection of the snakes (MATUSCHKA, unpublished data). With regard to the reported findings and the missing attempts to transmit Caryospora oocysts designated as C. simplex from V. xantina to V. aspis or vice versa, the designation as C. simplex should be relinquished. For the same reasons the Caryospora oocysts described herein from the feces of V. kaznakovi are not classified as C. simplex, as for instance in Sarcocystis or other Eimeriidae even morphologically identical exogenous stages may belong to completely different species or genera as recently demonstrated by HEYDORN and UNTERHOLZNER (1983) and MATUSCHKA and HAFNER (1984). 7 Arch. Protistenkd. Bd. 132
98
F.-R. MATUSCHKA
Zusammenfassung Aus dem Kat einer aus Griechenland importiertcn Katzennatter, Telescopus jallax, werden die Oozysten einer neuen Kokzidienart, Caryospora telescopis, sp. n. beschrieben. Die Morphologie del' neuen Spezies wird mit den Caryospora-Arten, die von Schlangen bekannt sind, verglichen. Die runden Oozysten von Caryospora telescopis messen 21,5 (19,1-23,5) pm und besitzen wedel' eine Mikropyle noch einen Restkorper. Die ovoiden Sporozysten sind 11,4 (10,3-11,8) pm breit und 15 (14,7-16,2) 11m lang, haben einen Stiedakorper dessen Form einer Garnspule ahnelt und einen Substiedakorper. Del' Restkorper del' Sporozyste besteht aus zahlreichen Granula. Innerhalb von 48 bis 72 h erfolgt bei 23 ± 2 °C die Sporulation. Caryospora telescopis ist die erste Caryospo1'llArt, die von del' Europaischen Katzennatter, Telescopus jallax, beschrieben wird. Das Vorkommen von Caryospora-Oozysten im Kot einer Westkaukasischen Viper, Vipem kaznakovi, wird ebenfalls zum ersten Mal berichtet und besprochen.
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Oaryospora telescopis, Telescopus faUax and Vipera kaznakovi
99
(1984 b): Oaryospora corallae n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Sporozoea, Eimeriidae) from the Emerald tree boa Oorallus caninus (Serpentes: Biodae). J. Protozool. 31: 358-359. and HAFNER, U. (1984): Cyclic transmission of an African Besnoitia species by snakes of the genus Bitis to several rodents. Z. Parasitenkd. 70: 471-476. STOCKDALE, P. H. G., and CAWTHORN, R. J. (1981): The coccidian Om'yospoTa bubonis in the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus). J. Protozool. 28: 255--257. UPTON, S. J., ERNST, J. V., BARNARD, S. M., and CURRENT, W. L. (1983): Redescription of the oocysts of Oaryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from an Ottoman viper, Vipera xanthina xanthina. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. 102: 258-263. CURRENT, W. L., and BARNARD, S. M. (1984a): A new species of Oaryospora (Apicomplexa: Eimeriorina) from Elaphe spp. (Serpentes: Colubridae) of the Southeastern and Central United States. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc. 103: 240-244. - ERNST,J. V., and BARNARD, S. M. (1984b): Extraintestinal development of Oaryospora simplex (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in experimentally infected mice, Mus musculus. J. Protozool. 31: 392-398. WACHA, R. S., and CHRISTIANSEN, J. L. (1982): Development of Oaryospora bigenetica n. sp. (Apicomp1exa: Eimeriidae) in rattlesnakes and laboratory mice. J. Protozool. 29: 272-278. Author's address: Priv.·Doz. Dr. F.-R. }IATUSCHKA, Institut fUr Angewandte Zoologie, Freie Universitiit Berlin, Haderslebener StraJ3e 9, Berlin (West) 41.
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