Morphological and molecular description of a novel species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa) that infects extraintestinal tissues of kiwi (Aves: Apteryx spp.)

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dc.citation.issue3
dc.citation.volume102
dc.contributor.authorScheltema E
dc.contributor.authorMorgan K
dc.contributor.authorSingh P
dc.contributor.authorAdlington B
dc.contributor.authorHowe L
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-13T03:15:45Z
dc.date.available2025-05-13T03:15:45Z
dc.date.issued2025-06
dc.description.abstractCoccidia (Apiconmplexa) are naturally occurring and occasionally detrimental parasites of kiwi (Apteryx spp.), a unique, flightless bird species dependent upon conservation efforts for survival. Using morphological and molecular data, a new coccidia species, Eimeria koka n. sp., isolated from two closely related but geographically isolated kiwi host species, Apteryx rowi Tennyson et al. (rowi) and Apteryx mantelli Bartlett (North Island brown kiwi), is described. Oocysts are oval (20.8 × 15.9 μm) with a mean L/W ratio of 1.3, and a distinctive rough, crenellated brown oocyst wall (mean 1.2 μm), an oocyst residuum, 1–2 polar granules, and no micropyle. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal (11.6 × 6.3 μm) with a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. Phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) placed E. koka n. sp. in a separate clade to other Eimeria species previously identified from kiwi (Coker et al., Syst Parasitol 100(3):269–281, 2023). Comparison of DNA from oocysts with infected tissues from a single juvenile North Island brown kiwi confirmed parasitism of the kidney and lung tissues. This is the first Eimeria species identified from extraintestinal tissues in kiwi. Further molecular studies are recommended to determine the tissue distribution of E. kokan. sp. and other Eimeria species in kiwi.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionJune 2025
dc.identifier.citationScheltema E, Morgan K, Singh P, Adlington B, Howe L. (2025). Morphological and molecular description of a novel species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa) that infects extraintestinal tissues of kiwi (Aves: Apteryx spp.). Systematic Parasitology. 102. 3.
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s11230-025-10227-x
dc.identifier.eissn1573-5192
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn0165-5752
dc.identifier.number30
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/72895
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherSpringer Nature, Heidelberg, Germany
dc.publisher.urihttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11230-025-10227-x
dc.relation.isPartOfSystematic Parasitology
dc.rights(c) 2025 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.titleMorphological and molecular description of a novel species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa) that infects extraintestinal tissues of kiwi (Aves: Apteryx spp.)
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id500578
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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