Type host: Peropteryx macrotis (Wagner, 1843), Lesser dog-like bat.

Other hosts: None reported to date.

Type locality: SOUTH AMERICA: Brazil, Pará State, Near Bragança. primary forest.

Geographic distribution: SOUTH AMERICA: Brazil.

Description of oocyst: Oocyst shape: spheroidal to subspheroidal; number of walls: 2; wall thickness: ~1.0; wall characteristics: outer, prominently striated (pitted), yellow-brown, ~.75; inner, thin, colorless; L x W: 15.9 x 14.6 (14-17.7 x 14-17.7); L/W ratio: 1.0 (1.0-1.2); M: absent; OR: absent; PG: 1 or 2, irregular in shape, 1-2 x 1. Distinctive features of oocyst: prominently striated outer wall.

Description of sporocysts and sporozoites: Sporocyst shape: pear-shaped; L x W: 8.4 x 5.3 (6.25-9 x 4-6); L/W ratio: 1.6 (1.2-1.9); SB: present, inconspicuous; SSB: present, inconspicuous; PSB: absent; SR: present; SR characteristics: small number of globules and finer granules; SP: with anterior (smaller) and posterior (larger) refractile bodies. Distinctive features of sporocyst: none.

Prevalence: 1/3 (33%).

Sporulation: Unknown

Prepatent and patent periods: Unknown.

Site of infection: Unknown. Oocysts recovered from feces and intestinal contents.

Endogenous stages: Merogony and gametogony stages are intracytoplasmiic in the epithelial cell of the small intestine, above the host cell nucleus. Segmented meronts averaged 10 x 8: from cross-sections it was estimated that they produce only from 10-20 merozoites measuring approximately 5 x 15, and that little or no residuum remains. Young macrogamonts measuring about 4 x 4 are recognizable by their voluminous nucleus containing a prominent karyosome. Mature macrogamonts are about 11 x 10 and, with growth, contain the usual eimeriid small (type I) and large (type II) wall-forming bodies: the latter are particularly conspicuous. The cytoplasm of the growing macrogamonts and zygotes (or young oocysts) becomes packed with small, ovoid, colorless bodies which probably reresent the amylopectin granules commonly recorded in the macrogamonts and zygotes of other eimeriids. Early microgamonts are readily differentiated from young schizonts and macrogamonts by their intensely staining and frequently angular nuclei, located around the periphery of the parasite. Towards maturity the microgamonts measure approximately 10, and produce a large number of microgametes measuring about 3 x 0.5. There is a conspicuous residuum, of variable size.

Pathology: There was considerable sloughing of the intestinal epithelium in the major developmental regions of E. bragancaensis in the small intestine, with dissociated cells and parasites present in the gut lumen. The infected bat, however, appeared to be in good health.

Materials deposited: None.

Remarks: None.

References: Lainson and Naiff (2000).