The coccidian oocyst: a tough nut to crack!

Trends Parasitol

Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

Published: September 2006

Coccidian parasites are transmitted between hosts by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts, followed by the release of infectious sporozoites and invasion of the gastro-intestinal tract. In the external environment, sporozoites are protected from desiccation and chemical disinfection by the oocyst wall. This unique structure guarantees successful disease transmission and is as vital to the coccidian parasite as the exoskeleton is to insects--without it they would die. Here, we revisit the early work and combine it with newer molecular data to describe our present understanding of the coccidian oocyst wall.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2006.07.004DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

coccidian oocyst
8
oocyst wall
8
coccidian
4
oocyst tough
4
tough nut
4
nut crack!
4
crack! coccidian
4
coccidian parasites
4
parasites transmitted
4
transmitted hosts
4

Similar Publications

Tyzzeria Allen, 1936 is a coccidian genus traditionally associated with Anseriformes, although there are descriptions of Tyzzeria spp. from junglefowls, snakes, skinks and mice. In this sense, the current study performs a taxonomic review of Tyzzeria spp.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Sheep coccidiosis could disturb the balance of intestinal microbiota, causing diarrhea, and even death in lambs. Chemical drugs are the primary method of treating sheep coccidiosis, but their use will bring drug resistance, toxic side effects, drug residues, and other problems. Chinese herbal medicines are investigated as alternative methods for controlling coccidian infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Swine coccidiosis is a host-specific protozoan disease caused by Cystoisospora suis and various Eimeria species, leading to diarrhea or subclinical signs in pigs. In this study, 3296 fecal samples from 55 farms across six provinces in China were collected and examined to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of swine coccidia. The single oocyst isolation technique (SOIT) and molecular characterization identified nine coccidian species, with an overall infection prevalence of 13.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We describe and characterize a new species from the Singing honeyeater () in Western Australia, both morphologically and molecularly. Microscopic analysis of a fecal sample identified 25 ellipsoidal oocysts, measuring 21-25 × 18-20 μm (mean 23.4 × 18.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Coccidiosis is a global disease caused by protozoans, typically including spp., which pose a significant threat to the normal growth and development of young animals. Coccidiosis affects mainly the gut, where parasite proliferation occurs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!