Changes

Once the sporozoites have been formed the oocyst is an infective '''sporulated oocyst''' that is ingested by the host for the life cycle to continue. The remaining stages of the life cycle occur endogenously within the host. Once ingested the sporozoites are released from the oocyst and activated by trypsin or bile before invading intestinal epithelial cells. Once the sporozoites have invaded an epithelial cell they become rounded and are called trophozoites. This trophozoite will then divide into a number of elongated nucleated merozoites, collectively known as a meront. Once the meront has grown and matured sufficiently it ruptures along with the epithelial cell, freeing the merozoites to either infect another epithelial cell and repeat the progress or progress on to sexual reproduction.

Once the sporozoites have been formed the oocyst is an infective '''sporulated oocyst''' that is ingested by the host for the life cycle to continue. The remaining stages of the life cycle occur endogenously within the host. Once ingested the sporozoites are released from the oocyst and activated by trypsin or bile before invading intestinal epithelial cells. Once the sporozoites have invaded an epithelial cell they become rounded and are called trophozoites. This trophozoite will then divide into a number of elongated nucleated merozoites, collectively known as a meront. Once the meront has grown and matured sufficiently it ruptures along with the epithelial cell, freeing the merozoites to either infect another epithelial cell and repeat the progress or progress on to sexual reproduction.

 

The released merozoites then infect new intestinal cells and differentiate into gametocytes. The females, known as '''macrogametocytes''' are large single nuclear cells, they increase in size to fill the host cell. merozoite that develops into the male gametocyte, or '''microgametocyte''', divide into a large number of small cells with flagella. The motile microgametocytes are released from the parasitised cell as it ruptures. A single microgametocyte will penetrate a macrogametocyte and the nuclei of both cells will fuse. A wall then develops around the new oocyst which then remains in this stage of development until released from the body in the hosts faeces. Sporogony will then begin as described above.

 

*The merozoites form male '''microgamonts''' or female '''macrogamonts'''

 

*The microgamonts released from the microgametocyte penetrate and fertilise the macrogamont (which is contained within the macrogametocyte)

 

**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'''

 

[[Category:Coccidia]]

[[Category:Coccidia]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Parasites]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Parasites]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_NickJ]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_NickJ]]