Morphological and Molecular Characterization of <i>Eimeria saudiensis</i> From Arabian Oryx (<i>Oryx leucoryx</i>) Held in Captivity in the Sultanate of Oman

ABSTRACT An observational study was conducted to investigate Eimeria species prevalence, fecal shedding, morphometric, and molecular composition in captive Arabian oryx ( Oryx leucoryx ) bred at the Mammals Breeding Center in Oman. Oryx were sampled in the summer and winter seasons. Eimeria was detected at a prevalence of 26% in summer and 22% in winter, with higher shedding intensity observed during the summer among adult oryx. The isolated Eimeria displayed ellipsoidal oocysts and ovoidal sporocysts with average dimensions of 30.6 × 24.3 μm (ranging from 24.8 to 35.4 × 20.9–26.7) and 14.3 × 7.1 μm (ranging from 11.1 to 18.3 × 6.1–8.6), respectively. Molecularly (18S rRNA, ITS‐1), E. saudiensis revealed its unique identity and closest relation (96.7%–99.3%) to E. bovis isolates of bovine origin (MK691697 and AB769578), respectively, in the absence of antelope‐derived isolates. The findings serve as a precursor to incorporating Eimeria species derived from Arabian oryx into the molecular map.