Eimeria fraterculae

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Eimeria fraterculae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Protista Phylum: Apicomplexa Class: Conoidasida Subclass: Coccidiasina Order: Eucoccidiorida Family: Eimeriidae Genus: Eimeria Species: E. fraterculae
Binomial name
Eimeria fraterculae Leighton & Gajadhar, 1986

Eimeria fraterculae is a species of protist belonging to the family Eimeriidae. It causes renal coccidiosis in the Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica.

Apart from its host-specificity, this coccidium can be recognised by the sub-spherical oocytes with unusually thick walls appearing distinctly greenish in colour. Coccidiosis caused by this parasite appears to be mild and non-fatal.

[edit] References

• Frederick A. Leighton & Alvin A. Gajadhar (1986). "Eimeria fraterculae sp. n. in the kidneys of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) from Newfoundland, Canada: species description and lesions". Journal of Wildlife Diseases 22(4): 520-526.