Genetical identification of coccidia in red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis.

We genetically analyzed eimerian oocysts isolated from the red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) in Hokkaido, a northern island of Japan. Two types of oocysts of which shapes were similar to Eimeria gruis and E. reichenowi were found. Nearly the total length of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (about 1.7 kbp in length) was amplified from single oocyst of each type and was sequenced. The respective sequences showed high similarity to those of published partial sequences (349 bp) of E. gruis type oocyst and E. reichenowi type oocyst isolated from the hooded crane (G. monacha) and the white-naped crane (G. vipio) in Izumi, in the southern island of Japan. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that E. gruis type and E. reichenowi type are different species, and suggested that these crane coccidia have evolved independently from the intestinal parasitizing Eimeria species.