The first detection of Eimeria Leuckarti in horses on the territory of the Russian Federation

Objective of research. The purpose of the study is to consider detection of Eimeria (Eimeria leuckarti) in horses in the Moscow region. Materials and methods. Samples of faeces were collected during the survey must reveal sport horses in ljuberetsky area of Moscow region before a scheduled deworming. Portion of samples was stored for months in a frozen state in the freezer. Faecal samples examined by flotation with saturated sodium chloride solution and sedimentation by the method of successive washings. To determine the viability of oocysts the feces were incubated in Petri dishes in the thermostat at 25 °C study of the incubated samples were determined after two weeks, one month and two months. Morphological studies of oocysts, morphometry and photographic documentation was performed using a microscope with a digital camera. Results and discussion. During routine coprological survey of sport horses in ljuberetsky area of Moscow region one 11-year-old horse in the samples of faeces were detected oocysts of coccidia Eimeria leuckarti. The intensity of invasion in koproskopicheskoe tests was low; the samples were found isolated instances of oocysts. This is the first time the detection of E. leuckarti on the territory of the Russian Federation. See the full list of countries that have so far been registered coccidia of the species.We trace the development of oocysts to sporulirovannyh stage in the laboratory. In a thermostat at 25 °C sporulation time exceeded one month. Brief description of the morphology of oocysts at different stages of development. Highlighted are unique among the coccidia peculiar structure of the shell oocysts E. leuckarti is the presence of the characteristic fossa on the inner surface of the shell opposite the micropyle pole. It is believed that it can serve as species specific taxonomic characteristic.