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==Introduction==
==Introduction==
[[Image:Isospora suis (pig).jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Isospora suis'' from a pig - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]]
[[Image:Isospora suis (pig).jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Isospora suis'' from a pig - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]]
[[Image:Isospora.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Isospora'' - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]]
[[Image:Isospora.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Isospora'' - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona]]
[[Image:Coccidia.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Coccidia - Joel Mills]]
''The following refers specifically to the life cycle of Coccidia spp.''
*The '''oocyst''' is the resistant stage in the environment
*The infective '''sporozoite''' is released from the oocyst
*Inside the host, the sporozoites invade the intestinal epithelial tissue
**Sporozoites feed and grow
*As the sporozoite grows the nucleus divides forming a '''schizont'''
*The schizont contains numerous elongated '''merozoites'''
*The formation of merozoites is the first asexual reproductive stage called '''schizogony'''
*The schizont ruptures releasing the merozoites which also invade the epithelial cells
*Another generation of schizonts form which is the beginning of the sexual phase of reproduction called '''gametogony'''
*The merozoites form male '''microgamonts''' or female '''macrogamonts'''
**Collectively known as gamonts or gametocytes
*The microgamonts released from the microgametocyte penetrate and fertilise the macrogamont (which is contained within the macrogametocyte)
*Gametogony forms the '''zygote'''
**Surrounded by a cyst wall
**Forms the '''oocyst'''
*The oocyst is passed in the faeces and is unsporulated
*The oocyst becomes sporulated in the second asexual reproductive phase called '''sporogony'''
*Once the oocyst is sporulated it is infective
[[Eimeria spp.|''Eimeria'' spp.]]
[[Eimeria spp.|''Eimeria'' spp.]]