Descriptions of two new species of coccidia (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) and redescriptions of Eimeria ivensae and Eimeria odocoilei from captive white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus.

Two new species of Eimeria were observed in the feces of captive white-tailed deer fawns, Odocoileus virginianus, from Alabama. The first new species was easily recognized because of its small size. Sporulated oocysts are spherical, average 10.2 by 10.0 microm, and lack a micropyle and oocyst residuum. Oocysts contain a polar granule and elongate-ellipsoidal sporocysts that measure 6.7 by 3.1 microm. A Stieda body is present on the sporocysts. Oocysts were observed in the feces, and gamonts and oocysts were observed in the jejunum of a month-old fawn from Minnesota that died from enteritis due to this species. Oocysts of this small species were present in 5 of the 6 white-tailed deer fawns examined. Oocysts of a second new species are ellipsoidal and average 29.5 by 24.6 microm. The oocyst encloses an oocyst residuum, polar granule, and elongate-ellipsoidal sporocysts that average 16.0 by 9.0 microm. A Stieda body and substieda body are present on the sporocysts. Oocysts of the second new species were present in 4 of the 6 white-tailed deer fawns examined. Oocysts of E. ivensae are ovoid or flask-like and average 32.0 by 20.8 microm. The oocyst wall is rough, contains a micropyle, and encloses elongate-ellipsoidal sporocysts that average 16.5 by 7.8 microm. A Stieda body is present on the sporocysts. Oocysts of E. ivensae were present in 4 of the 6 white-tailed deer fawns. Oocysts of E. odocoilei are spherical or slightly subspherical and measure 24.7 by 21.5 microm. They enclose ovoid sporocysts that average 12.7 by 8.8 microm. A Stieda and substieda body are present on the sporocyst. Oocysts of E. odocoilei were present in 4 of the 6 white-tailed deer fawns.