University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of 4-2003 Survey for Coccidia and Haemosporidia in the Lesser Prairie Chicken (Typanuchus pallidicinctus) from New Mexico with the Description of a New Eimeria Species B. H. Smith University of New Mexico, [email protected] Donald Duszynski University of New Mexico, [email protected] K. Johnson University of New Mexico Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs Part of the Parasitology Commons Smith, B. H.; Duszynski, Donald; and Johnson, K., "Survey for Coccidia and Haemosporidia in the Lesser Prairie Chicken (Typanuchus pallidicinctus) from New Mexico with the Description of a New Eimeria Species" (2003). Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology. 194. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs/194 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES Thursday May 22 2003 03:14 PM jwdi 39_212 Mp_347 Allen Press x DTPro System File # 12em Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 39(2), 2003, pp. 347±353 q Wildlife Disease Association 2003 SURVEY FOR COCCIDIA AND HAEMOSPORIDIA IN THE LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN (TYMPANUCHUS PALLIDICINCTUS) FROM NEW MEXICO WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW EIMERIA SPECIES B. H. Smith,1,2 D. W. Duszynski,1 and K. Johnson1 1 Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA 2 Corresponding author (email: [email protected]) ABSTRACT: Blood ®lms and fecal samples of the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidi- cinctus) were examined for parasites when we surveyed specimens captured during a radio- tracking study conducted in Chaves County, New Mexico (USA). All birds were captured on the Caprock Wildlife Habitat Management Area, administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Samples were collected in late March, April, and early May 1998±2000. Oocysts were detected in ®ve of 64 (8%) birds sampled and, upon sporulation, were determined to be an Eimeria species. This is the ®rst eimerian reported from the lesser prairie-chicken and is described here as a new species. Sporulated oocysts are ellipsoidal, 27.1322.7 (22±32318±26) mm, with micropyle absent, but oocyst residuum and polar granule present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 11.937.8 (10±1436±10); a Stieda body, and sporocyst residuum are present, as is a small, indistinct substieda body. In- spection of blood smears revealed four cases of Plasmodium infection of 32 (13%) individuals sampled. The characteristics of this plasmodiid are consistent with the description of Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) pedioecetii, previously found in T. pallidicinctus (Stabler, 1978). Key words: Eimeria tympanuchi, lesser prairie-chicken, new species, Plasmodium (Giovan- nolaia) pedioecetii, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus. INTRODUCTION and Plasmodium species. Parasite load is not currently perceived as a signi®cant Tympanu- The lesser prairie-chicken contributor to lesser prairie-chicken mor- chus pallidicinctus (Phasianidae: Tetraon- tality. However, if remaining lesser prairie- inae) is a lekking grouse species found in chicken populations become concentrated the dry short grass prairie of Colorado, into smaller areas of acceptable habitat, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tex- parasite transmission rates could rise as (USA). In New Mexico, the shinnery (Dobson and May, 1986). oak (Quercus havardii) shrublands of the Staked Plain are the principal breeding MATERIALS AND METHODS grounds. A 4 yr trapping and banding Lesser prairie-chickens were trapped in the study of T. pallidicinctus was conducted in wild on the Bureau of Land Management ad- Chaves County, eastern New Mexico. In ministered Caprock Wildlife Habitat Manage- the last 3 yr of the study, blood and fecal ment Area, Chaves County, New Mexico samples were collected in the ®eld. This (338289220N, 1038479440W). Members of four population of prairie-chickens inhabits leks were sampled for blood and fecal parasites (Johnson and Smith, 1998, 1999). All birds rangeland managed for wildlife, grazing, screened for parasites were trapped within and oil and gas development. Recent de- 3,200 ha of contiguous habitat. This constitutes clines in T. pallidicinctus populations are a a small percentage of the extant New Mexico consequence of habitat alteration and population. We trapped birds in circular, weld- ed-wire, walk-in traps connected by chicken- drought (Giesen, 1998). Chemical control wire drift fences (Toepfer et al., 1987). Samples of shinnery oak has further reduced avail- were taken in late March, April, and early May, able nesting and brood-rearing habitat. from 1998±2000. Average capture time was The species is a candidate for federal pro- 6:30 AM (0500±08:15 AM, n556), with only one tection as threatened by the United States bird captured after 8:00 AM. Each bird was temporarily detained in a small cardboard box. Fish and Wildlife Service. This study Fecal samples were collected from holding found the eastern New Mexico population boxes, or during the banding and release pro- of T. pallidicinctus positive for Eimeria cess, and transported to the University of New 347 JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES Thursday May 22 2003 03:14 PM jwdi 39_212 Mp_348 Allen Press x DTPro System File # 12em 348 JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES, VOL. 39, NO. 2, APRIL 2003 FIGURES 1, 2. Photomicrographs of sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tympanuchi.SB5Stieda body, OR5oocyst residuum. Bar510 mm. Mexico (UNM; Albuquerque, New Mexico). 20 min ($150 ®elds/®lm) for hematozoa, in- Morphologic data including weight, tarsus cluding Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocy- length, wing chord, culmen depth, and length tozoon, trypanosomes, and micro®larie. Preva- of pinna were taken on each donor bird, as well lence of parasitemias was determined from four as age, sex, date, time, and location of capture. randomly selected counts of 500 erythrocytes The unique identity of each bird was kept via (n52,000) per positive slide (Godfrey et al., a numbered aluminum leg band provided by 1987). Positive slides were read extensively in the New Mexico Department of Game and order to best describe life stage characteristics. Fish. All measurements of Eimeria and Plasmodium Fecal samples were placed in separate vials species are in micrometers with means fol- containing 2% aqueous (w/v) potassium dichro- lowed by ranges in parentheses. mate (K2Cr2O7). In the laboratory each sample was incubated at room temperature and pro- RESULTS cessed following the methods outlined in Du- szynski and Wilber (1997). All samples were ex- The birds we examined were infected amined and oocysts measured and photo- with one Eimeria species, described here graphed within 1 yr of collection. Photosyn- as new, and with one malarial species, types of sporulated oocysts are deposited in the United States National Parasite Collection Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) pedioecetii (USNPC), Beltsville, Maryland (USA) follow- ®rst described by Shillinger (1942), ing Bandoni and Duszynski (1988) and Du- emended by Stabler et al. (1973). szynski (1999). We drew 10±50 ml of blood from captured Eimeria tympanuchi n. sp. (Figs. 1, 2, 5) birds using brachial venipuncture. Smears of Description whole blood were made in the ®eld. Each slide was ®xed in 100% methyl alcohol to preserve Sporulated oocysts (n556) ellipsoidal, the cells, and later were stained with Giemsa's blood stain. Smears were scanned under oil im- 27.1322.7 (22±32318±26); shape index mersion (1,0003) to detect the presence of (SI5length/width)51.2 (1.0±1.5); wall blood parasites. Blood ®lms were scanned for smooth in optical cross-section, 1.8 (1.0± JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES Thursday May 22 2003 03:14 PM jwdi 39_212 Mp_349 Allen Press x DTPro System File # 12em SMITH ET AL.ÐPARASITES IN LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN 349 FIGURES 3, 4. Photomicrographs of Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) pedioecetii macrogametocyte (3, arrow) and ring stage (4). Bar510 mm. 2.5) thick, with two layers; outer, lightly Type locality: USA, New Mexico, striated, ;2/3 of total thickness; micropyle Chaves County, 338289220N, 1038479440W. absent; usually one small, refractile polar Prevalence: 5/64 (8%). granule present; two to ®ve oocyst residual Site of infection: Unknown, oocysts re- bodies present as round, opaque spheres. covered from feces. Sporocysts (n556) ovoidal, 11.937.8 (10± Material deposited: Photosyntypes of 1436±10) with L : W ratio 1.5 (1.2±2.0); sporulated oocysts in the USNPC, No. Stieda body present at pointed end of spo- 092386.00. rocyst, with evidence that a small, indis- Etymology: The speci®c name is de- tinct substieda body also may be present rived from the generic name of the host. immediately below it; sporocyst residuum Remarks: There are now 15 Eimeria present, comprised of small uniformly species described from grouse and ptar- shaped spheres in a cluster, approximately migan (Phasianidae:Tetraoninae) (Table two, partially obscuring sporozoites; spo- 1). The sporulated oocysts of E. tympan- rozoites with two refractile bodies, a larger uchi are distinguished from the others by one at the blunt end and a second, smaller the presence of a distinct