Redescription of Eimeria dorcadis Mantovani, 1966 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas) in Saudi Arabia.

Eimeria dorcadis Mantovani, 1966 is redescribed from dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas (L.)) from Saudi Arabia. Oocysts were detected in 7 out of 22 faecal samples (32%) using floatation method. The sporulated oocysts are cylindrical, slightly flattened at the micropylar pole, measure in average 32 x 19 mu m (27-36 x 16-24 mu m), length/width ratio being 1.7 (1.5-2.1). Oocyst wall is 1.2 mu m thick, smooth, double-layered; outer layer is slightly thicker, light blue in colour; inner layer brownish, with micropyle in the inner layer and apparently continual outer one, measures 2.2 mu m, but lacks a micropylar cap. The sporocyst elongate-ellipsoidal; measures 14 x 8 mu m (12-17 x 6-9 mu m), length/width ratio being 1.8, with sporocyst residuum as circular compact, coarse, refractile granules. Stieda body is present, while substieda body is absent. Sporozoites banana-shaped, measure 11 x 2.5 mu m, each with a large spheroidal refractile body at the wider pole. Sporulation time is 2-3 days at 25 +/- 2 degrees C.