Coccidia

Coccidia (Coccidiasina) is a subclass of microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled obligate intracellular parasites belonging to the apicomplexan class Conoidasida.^[1] Obligate intracellular parasites means that they must live and reproduce within an animal cell. Coccidian parasites infect the intestinal tracts of animals,^[2] and are the largest group of apicomplexan protozoa.

Infection with these parasites is known as coccidiosis.

Taxonomy

The class is divided into four orders which are distinguished by the presence or absence of various asexual and sexual stages:

1. Order Agamococcidiorida Levine 1979
2. Order Eucoccidiorida Léger & Duboscq 1910
3. Order Ixorheorida Levine 1984
4. Order Protococcidiorida Kheisin 1956

The order Eucoccidiorida is divided into two suborders. The first suborder, Adeleorina, comprises coccidia of invertebrates and the coccidia that alternate between blood-sucking invertebrates and various vertebrates; this group includes Hemogregarina and Hepatozoon. There are three families with eight genera in this suborder.

The second suborder, Eimeriorina, comprises coccidia of vertebrates as well as cyst-forming coccidia, including Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis. The fundamental difference between these two groups lies in their sexual development: syzygy for Adeleorina and independent gametes for Eimeriorina.

See also

• cryptosporidiosis
• List of parasites (human)
• Zoalene is a fodder additive for poultry, used to prevent infections from coccidia.

References

External links

• Coccidiosis treatment Coccidiosis treatment for Calves and Lambs
• Mar Vista Animal Medical Center.
• Mar Vista Animal Medical Center.
• Mar Vista Animal Medical Center.
• The Coccidia of the World, Donald W. Duszynski, Steve J. Upton, Lee Couch, Feb. 21, 2004.
• Life Cycle EIMERIA, Andreas Weck-Heimann, 1996–2005
• FarmingUK, Information about Coccidiosis

• Lillehoj, Hyun S. (October 1996). "Two Strategies for Protecting Poultry From Coccidia". Agricultural Research magazine (United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service) (October 1996). http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct96/coccidia1096.htm.  Describes using live-parasite vaccine versus a monoclonal antibody to block the sporozoite from invading a host's cell.