First record of Diplodinium rangiferi Dogiel, 1925 (Ophryoscolecidae, Entodiniomorphida) from domestic cattle

Diplodinium rangiferi was observed in rumen contents from a single animal out of 25 cattle surveyed in the area of Kastamonu, Turkey. It constituted 2.7% of the total ciliate population and had a 4% frequency of appearance. The size and percentage occurrence of this species in the present study are compared to those previously reported for other animal hosts living in different geographical locations. This study reports for the first time in Turkey and the world the naturally occurring presence of D. rangiferi in cattle.