THE TELOSPORASIDA AND THE COCCIDIA PROPER 



197 



bile duct epithelial cells. Instead of form- 

 ing a simple, narrow tube, the epithelium 

 is thrown into great, arborescent folds, 

 and each cell contains a parasite. 



Dunlap, Dickson and Johnson (1959) 

 found that infection with E. stiedae in- 

 creased the serum /3- and y-globulin and 

 i3-lipoprotein and decreased the a-lipo- 

 protein. 



EIMERIA MAGNA 

 PERARD, 1925 



Synonyms: Eimeria p erf or ans var. 

 magna. 



Hosts : Domestic rabbit, California 

 jack rabbit {Lepus calif ornicus), varying 

 hare (L. tiniidus), European hare (L. 

 europaeus), cottontail (Sylvilagus flori- 

 danus) (experimental). 



Location : Jejunum, ileum. 



Geographic Distribution : Worldwide. 



Prevalence : This species is quite 

 common. Kessel and Jankiewicz (1931) 

 found it in 19% of over 2000 rabbits in 

 California. 



Morphology : The oocysts are ovoid 

 or ellipsoidal, becoming subspherical 

 toward the end of the patent period, 

 smooth, orange-yellow or brownish, and 

 27 to 41 by 17 to 29 ;j with a mean of 35 

 by 24jLL. The micropyle is large and sur- 

 rounded by prominent shoulders. An 

 oocyst polar granule is absent. An oocyst 

 residuum is present. The sporocysts are 

 elongate ovoid, with a Stieda body. A 

 sporocyst residuum is present. The 

 sporulation time is 2 to 3 days. Oocyst 

 variation was studied carefully by Kheisin 

 (1947). 



Life Cycle : Rutherford (1943) des- 

 cribed the life cycle of this species. The 

 endogenous stages are found below the 

 epithelial cell nuclei of the villi and also 

 in the submucosa. There are 2 asexual 

 generations of merozoites followed by 

 microgamete and macrogamete production. 



It takes 7 days for completion of the endo- 

 genous cycle, and the prepatent period is 

 7 to 8 days. According to Kheisin (1947), 

 E. magna produces 800,000 oocysts per 

 oocyst fed. 



Pathogenesis : This is one of the 

 most pathogenic of the intestinal coccidia 

 of the rabbit. Only a few hundred oocysts 

 of some strains may produce symptoms, 

 and 300,000 may cause death (Lund, 1949). 

 Other strains are less pathogenic, 1 mil- 

 lion oocysts not causing death. The prin- 

 cipal signs are loss of weight, inappetance 

 and diarrhea. A good deal of mucus may 

 be passed. The animals lose their appe- 

 tites and grow thin. The intestinal mucosa 

 is hyperemic and inflamed, and epithelial 

 sloughing may occur. 



EIMERIA PERFORANS 



(LEUCKART, 1879) 



SLUITER AND SWELLENGREBEL, 1912 



Synonyms : Coccidium perforans, 

 Eimeria exigiia, E. Jugdunumensis. 



Hosts : Domestic rabbit, varying 

 hare {Lepus americanus), east Greenland 

 hare (L. arcticus groenlandicus), Califor- 

 nia jack rabbit (L. calif ornicus), European 

 hare {L. europaeus), Brazilian cottontail 

 {Sylvilagus brasiliensis), cottontail {Syl- 

 vilagus floridanus) (experimentally). 



Location : Thruout small intestine 

 and also in cecum. 



Geographic Distribution : Worldwide. 



Prevalence : Common. Kessel and 

 Jankiewicz (1931) found it in 30% of over 

 2000 rabbits in California. 



Morphology : The oocysts are 

 ellipsoidal, sometimes ovoid, smooth, 

 colorless to pinkish, 24 to 30 by 14 to 

 20jLi with a mean of 26 by lOju . A 

 micropyle is absent. An oocyst polar 

 granule is absent. An oocyst residuum 

 is present. The sporocysts are ovoid, 

 with a Stieda body. A sporocyst residuum 

 is present. The sporulation time is 

 2 days. 



