Table 2.

Defining structural characters of the sporocysts/sporozoites of all Eimeria species known from all seven musk deer species (Moschidae: Moschus spp.) worldwide.

Host sp./Eimeria sp.	Shape1	L × W (range)	L × W (ratio)	Stieda/Substieda/Parastieda bodies	Residuum (type/size)2	Refractile Bodies (No.)3	SZ Shape	SZ N4
M. berezovskii
E. aquae	E/O	14.1 × 7.5	1.9	+/–/–	+	+	Banana-like	+
		(10–16 × 5–9)	(1.5–2.2)		(SG)	(2, L, S)		C
E. dolichocystis	E/O	13.9 × 7.7	1.8	+/–/–	+	+	Sausage-like	+/–
		(10–18 × 5–12)	(1.4–2.6)		(SG)	(1, L)		C
E. fengxianensis	E/O	13.9 × 7.3	1.9	+/–/–	+	+	Sausage-like	+/–
		(11–16 × 6–9)	(1.6–2.2)		(SG)	(2, L, S)		C
E. helini	E/O	13.5 × 7.7	1.8	+/–/–	+	+	Sausage-like	+/–
		(9–16 × 6–10)	(1.4–2.0)		(SG)	(1, L)		C
E. jinfengshanenisis	E	11.1 × 5.9	1.9	–/–/–	+	+	Banana-like	–
		(10–11 × 5–7)	(1.7–2.0)		(SG)	(1, Sm)
E. dujiangyanensis	S	17.5 × 8.2	2.1	–/–/–	+	+	Sausage-like	–
		(16–20 × 7.5–10)	(1.9–2.3)		(SG)	(1, L)
E. kaii	E/O	14.4 × 7.5	1.9	+/–/–	+	+	Banana-like	+/–
		(12–16 × 6–8)	(1.6–2.2)		(SG)	(2, L, S)		C
E. oocylindrica	E/O	13.8 × 7.7	1.8	+/–/–	+	+	Sausage-like	+/–
		(11–16 × 6–9.5)	(1.5–2.2)		(SG)	(2, L, S)		C
M. moschiferus
E. moschus	E	Means not given	Not given	–/–/–	+	+	Banana-like	–
		(10–10.5 × 5–7)			(SG)	(1, Sm)
E. sajanica	E	Means not given	1.1	–/–/–	+	+	Banana-like	–
		(5–10 × 3–5)			(SG)	(1, Sm)

¹E = Ellipsoidal; E/O = Elongate-ovoidal (1 end rounded, 1 end pointed slightly); S = Spindle-shaped.

²Sporocyst residuum: Shape, consistency (SG = scattered granules; CM = compact mass).

³Refractile bodies of SZ: Number, general size (L = large at rounded end; S = smaller at pointed end; Sm = small at rounded end).

⁴Sporozoite (SZ) nucleus (N): visible (+), not visible (–); location (C = central in SZ; W = wide end of SZ; P = pointed end of SZ).