Eimeria saudiensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Saudi Arabia

Oocysts of Eimeria saudiensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from the feces of the Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx, from the Riyadh Zoo, Saudi Arabia. The oocysts were ellipsoidal or slightly ovoid, 31.2 x 24.5 (24.3-36.5 x 20.0-27.6) micron with a bilayered wall about 1.7 micron thick. The micropyle was covered by a dome-shaped cap. The oocyst residuum was absent, but tiny polar granules were present. The sporocysts were elongate ovoid, 14.3 x 7.2 (11.5-18.5 x 6.0-9.0) micron, had a Stieda body, but lacked a substiedal body. The sporocyst residuum was present, composed of numerous small granules. The sporozoites were elongate club-shaped, and contained two prominent refractile bodies.