ABSTRACT

The ciliate protozoon that lives in the rumen of Cypriot domestic goats and belongs to the genus Ophryoscolex from the (Capra hircus) was investigated. As the result of our investigation, a species [Ophryoscolex purkynjei] including four formae [O. p. f. purkynjei, O. p. f. bifidobicinctus, O. p. f. bicoronatus and O. p. f. tricoronatus] were detected. The present study reports for the first time the presence of Ophryoscolex purkynjei f. bifidobicinctus in the rumen of goats. All of the formae determined were compared with their original descriptions and previous reports and the similarities and differences were discussed. It was also determined that the microfauna of the genus Ophryoscolex in the rumen of the Cypriot domestic goat is more diverse than that in goats of other countries.

Keywords: Rumen ciliates, Capra hircus, Ophryoscolex, Entodiniomorphida