A new species of Eimeria with notes on previously known species collected in horses from Iran

Background: We conducted a cross-sectional study of indigenous breeds of horses from the north and northeast of Iran to establish the prevalence and distribution of Eimeria species. Material and Methods 340 fecal samples from randomly selected horses (141 from the north of Iran and 199 from the northeast of Iran) were examined for Eimeria oocyst using standard coprological techniques. Results Out of 340 samples, only 3 from north Iran were positive for coccidiosis. Two infections occurred by E. leuckarti species, and one infection happened by E. uninugulata . The mean intensity of oocyst output (3–38 o.p.g.) was very low. No clinical signs of gastrointestinal disorder were noticed in any horses during this study. Conclusion This study reports for the first time on the prevalence of E. uninugulata in horses from farms in North Iran. A more comprehensive study in different rural areas of Iran would be advantageous to develop a better understanding of the molecular identification and characterization of Eimeria species and strengthen the knowledge we currently have.