Phylum Apicomplexa Flashcards
What are the general features of protozoa?
Unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms
Most are motile
Contain resting stages (cysts / spores)
Asexual reproduction is usual, sexual reproduction also occurs
Can be intracellular or extracellular in blood, and organs
What are the general features of Phylum Apicomplexa?
Apical complexes within the invasive stages, use to gain access to the host
Resistant spores that can remain viable in environment for long times
Complex lifecycles that include both asexual and sexual reproduction
What are the features of Genus Eimeria?
Intracellular parasites within Digestive tract
Direct lifecycle
Merogony and gametogony occurs in the host cells, sporogony occurs in the environment
Sporulated oocysts contain 4 sporocysts each with 2 sporozoites.
What causes infection of the Caeca and hemorhagic faeces in chickens?
Poultry Emeriosis / Coccidiosis
What is the Emeria lifecycle?
Direct lifecycle
Infection of the host occurs by ingesting sporulated oocysts.
Merogony –> asexual development within the host
- Sporozoites (within sporocysts) - banana shaped cells –> infective stage (has apical complex)
Sporozoites develop to Trophozoites which have a nucleus. - Trophozoites develop to Schizonts which can move to sexual development or continue with asexual development and form into merozoites –> invade trophozoites.
Schizonts / merozoites will move into sexual reproduction within the host called Gametogony
- Microgametocytes form into microgametes (male)
- macrogametocytes form into macrogametes (females)
Microgametes and macrogametes undergp fecundation and form into a zygote.
The zygote forms into an unsporulated oocyst –> shed in environment.
Sporogony –> asexual development within the environment where the unsporylated oocyst forms into a sporulated oocyst containing 4 sporocysts and 2 sporozoites within each cyst.
What is the features of the Genus Eimeria oocysts?
Are essential for parasite survival in environment and host
Important for diagnosis
Oocyst wall –> most species is clear, colourless, transparent. Contains 2 layers which are very resistant in the environemnt
Unsporulated oocyst (exits from host) - are uninfective and contain one cell called sporont
Sporulated oocyst (infective stage) - Contain 4 sporocysts and 2 sporozoites in each. Infect the host
Require proper temp, humidity to develop.
How does the Genus Eimeria infect the host?
Ingestion of sporulated oocysts –> sporocysts are released within the gizzard, sporozoites are released by Bile, Trypsin and CO2
The sporozoites use the spical complex to invade the host cell (epithelial cells of SI)
What is the Merogoy developmental stage?
Asexual development:
Develops from –>
Trophozoite (invades host cells)
Immature schizont
Mature schizont –> cytoplasm divides and merozoites are formed
Merozoites –> break out of schizonts, invade other host cells. Continue asexual development
What is the gametogony developmental stage?
After so many axsexual developments, the merozoites invade other host cells and begin sexual development.
Merozoites will invade host cells, grow and form into either a Microgametocyte or Macrogametocyte. Give rise to many microgametes / macrogametes.
Undergo fecundation where they form into a zygote–> unsporulated oocyst (thin shell, one sporont).
What is the Sporogony developmental stage?
Sporozoites are formed within oocysts and they become infective
Takes place in the environment
Depends on Temperature
Humidity and Oxygen availability
Are infective in sporulated oocytes
Where is Eimeria tenella located?
Caeca - cause very bad pathology
Where is Eimeria necatrix located?
Asexual development occurs mid intestine of the host. Sexual development occurs in the caeca.
Merozoite migrate to caeca to start fevelopment –> oocyte shed in faeces
Where are the species of Eimeria that infect cattle located and give an example of the pathogenic speices?
Located in the small and large intestine
Have 13 species but the most pathogenic species in cattle is Eimeria zuernii and Eimeria bovis
Where are the species of Eimeria that infect sheep located and give an example of the pathogenic speices?
Located in the small and large intestine
Have 11 species but the most pathogenic is Eimeria ovinoidalis and Eimeria crandalis
Where are the species of Eimeria that infect rabbits located and give an example of the pathogenic speices?
Locate in the small and Large intestine except for Eimeria stiedai that is within the bile ducts.
11 species
What are the general features of isospora?
Hosts - pigs, dogs, cats, humans, etc
Contain sporulated oocysts with 2 sporocysts and 4 sporozoites
Sporozoites invade the epithelial cells of the intestine but do not form into trophozoites –> divide by endodygeny many times before forming into multinucleate schizonts
Extraintestinal stages occur in the DH (canine and feline isospora species)
Some species contain PH