Eimeria spp. from Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in Italy

Faecal samples from Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) collected in Italian Eastern Alps in the period from July 1995 to July 1997 proved positive for coccidia. Four Eimeria species were identified, namely E. riedmülleri, E. suppereri (first report in Italy) and E. yakimoffmamatschoulskyi, typical of R. rupicapra, and E. faurei, typical of domestic sheep. All these species have already been described in chamois. Cluster analysis, performed using oocysts and sporocysts measurements, was applied to validate the classification into the four species of the 307 sporulated oocysts examined. Accounting for the theory of Eimeriidae-host specificity, the species identified as E. faurei could be actually a new and morphologically similar Eimeria sp. of R. rupicapra. The reliability of the morphological identification of coccidia, with special reference to those from wildlife, is briefly discussed.