Ophryocystidae
| Ophryocystidae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Chromalveolata |
| Superphylum: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa Levine 1970 |
| Class: | Conoidasida Levine 1988 |
| Subclass: | Gregarinasina Dufour 1828 |
| Order: | Neogregarinorida Grassé & Schrével 1953 |
| Suborder: | Schizogregarinina |
| Family: | Ophryocystidae |
| Genera | |
|
Ophryocystis | |
The Ophryocystidae are a family of parasitic protozoa in the phylum Apicomplexa.[1] Species in this family infect insects (Coleoptera and Lepidoptera).
History
This family was created by Léger and Duboscq in 1908.
Taxonomy
There is one genus in this family - Ophryocystis with at least 10 species.
This is the type family of the order Neogregarinorida.
Life cycle
Most species in this family infect the Malpigian tubes of beetles.
The trophozoite is conical in shape.
There are two forms of schizont: gregarinoid and mycetoid. The gregarinoid are more common and give rise to gametocytes. The mycetoid give rise to merozoites.
The merozoites are uninucleate, pyriform cells. These are released into the lumen of the tube and from there infect other cells of the tube.
The gametocytes possesses only a single nucleus and are globular in shape. When mature these become detached from the epithelium. Within the lumen the gametocytes associate in pairs, fuse and form a zygote. The zygote subsequently becomes a single octozoic spore.
References
- ↑ Leger L (1907) Les schizogregarines des tracheates. L Le genre Ophryocystis. Arch. Prot. 8: 159-202
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