Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from <i>Vespertilio murinus</i> and <i>Eptesicus gobiensis</i> (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Mongolia and How Many Species of Coccidia Occur in Bats?

An examination of the feces from 28 bats collected in 1999 and from 12 bats collected in 2009, all from Mongolia, revealed the presence of two new species of coccidian parasites of the genus Eimeria. Bats representing two species assigned to different genera were studied including: Vespertillio murinus and Eptesicus gobiensis. Oocysts of Eimeria stubbei n. sp. from V. murinus collected in 1999 are ellipsoid, average length and width of 22.4 x 18.7 μm, with a 1.5 μm thick double layered wall and a single polar granule. Sporocysts of this species are ovoid, 10.0 x 7.2 μm in length and width, with a Steida body and a sporocyst residuum consisting of 2–3 globules. Oocysts of Eimeria samiyai n. sp., from E. gobiensis collected in 2009 are ellipsoid, 26.3 x 19.9 μm in average length and width, with a 1.6 μm thick double layered wall and a single polar granule. Their sporocysts are ovoidal, with a length and width of 11.9 x 7.7 μm with a prominent Steida body and a sporocyst residuum.