Life cycle of Eimeria rhinopomi sp. nov. (Apicomplexa Eimeriidae) infecting lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickii Gray, 1831 (Chiroptera Rhinopomatidae) in Egypt

Developmental stages of the life cycle of E. rhinopomi sp. nov. were described for the first time from the lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickii in Egypt. 152 bats were collected from October 2012 to December 2014 and examined for the presence of coccidian parasites. The infection rate was 26.32%. The collected unsporulated oocysts from the naturally infected bats were allowed to sporulate in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. Events of sporulation and sporulation time were described. The sporulated oocysts were subspherical to ovoid measuring 29.1-36.2 x 27.3-30.2 μm and limited by a smooth double-layered wall; no micropyle but a polar granule and oocyst residuum were observed. The sporocyst measured 8.6-9.1 x 6.4-7.3 μm with a sporocyst residuum; Stieda and substieda bodies were also observed. Experimental inoculation of sporulated oocysts was carried out and the developmental endogenous stages (merogony and gamogony) were followed up and described. The prepatent period was 4 days while the patent period was 10-12 days. Endogenous stages took place in the lamina propria and epithelial cells of the upper third of the small intestine of the experimentally infected bats. Merogony occurred at 25-60 h p.i. and only one generation was observed. The mature meronts measured 10.3 x 6.2μm and yielded up to 50 merozoites. Gamogony occurred at 72-96 h p.i. The mature microgamonts measured 8.2 x 6 μm and contained up to 30 small nuclei while the mature macrogamonts measured 11.3 x 10.2 μm and contained 2 types of wall-forming bodies (types I&II). At 90-96 h p.i., newly-formed zygotes or young oocysts were observed.