Abstract
ABSTRACT. Berto B.P., Luz, H.B., Ferreira I., Flausino W. & Lopes C.W.G. A diagnostic tool to identify species of the genus Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) based on sporulated oocysts from Thaupidae family (Aves: Passeriformes): a dichotomous key [Uma ferramenta de diagnóstico para identificar espécies de Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) da família Thaupidae (Aves: Passeriformes): uma chave dicotômica]. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 32(3):182-186, 2010. Laboratório de Coccídios e Coccidioses, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465 km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brasil. E-mail: bertobp@ufrrj.br The birds of the Thraupidae family, similar to other passerine birds can be infected by coccidia, and the genus Isospora can be considered the most relevant. Isospora thraupis, I. andesensis, I. irisidornisi, I. tiesangui, I. marambaiensis, I. sepetibensis, I. cadimi, I. navarroi, I. ramphoceli, I. sanhaci, I. sayacae and I. silvasouzai were described from thraupids of South American and considering that these birds are sympatric hosts of other birds that inhabit South, North and Central Americas, it is concluded that these parasites should be widely dispersed in the America Continent. In this sense, this paper proposes to provide scientific background and a dichotomous key to assist in the identification of sporulated oocysts of the genus Isospora from passerine birds of the Thraupidae family.