Changes

[[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]]

===Life Cycle===

===Life Cycle===

There are essentially three stages in the ''Isospora'' life cycle.  The first is called '''Sporogony''' and is the asexual stage of the parasite development.  It occurs exogenously, and leads to the development of sporozoites in the oocysts.  After this occurs, the oocysts are now deemed infective.

There are essentially three stages in the ''Isospora'' life cycle.  The first is called '''Sporogony''' and is the asexual stage of the parasite development.  It occurs exogenously, and leads to the development of ''sporozoites'' in the oocysts.  After this occurs, the oocysts are now deemed infective.

The host then ingests the infectious oocyst, and the digestive enzymes break down the oocyst wall, and release the infective sporozoites, which then go on to penetrate the intestinal villus epithelium, namely the jejunum and the ileum.  Each sporulated oocyst contains 2 sporocysts each with 4 sporozoites.  This stage will occur relatively quickly under optimal conditions of high humidity and temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees.

The host then ingests the infectious oocyst, and the digestive enzymes break down the oocyst wall, and release the infective sporozoites, which then go on to penetrate the intestinal villus epithelium, namely the jejunum and the ileum.  Each sporulated oocyst contains 2 sporocysts each with 4 sporozoites.  This stage will occur relatively quickly under optimal conditions of high humidity and temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees.

The next step is '''Schizogony'''.  This is an asexual process which occurs endogenously.  After the sporozoites invade the epithelia, they then form trophozoites.  These trophozoites then form merozoites, which is known as merogony.

The next step is '''Schizogony'''.  This is an asexual process which occurs endogenously.  After the sporozoites invade the epithelia, they then form ''trophozoites''.  These trophozoites then form ''merozoites'', which is known as ''merogony''.

Gametogony then occurs, which is sexual division occurs endogenously, namely the intestinal cells. Merozoites then form either microgamonts (male) or macrogamonts (female).  Invasion of macrogametocytes containing cells by microgametocytes leads to fertilization, and the cycle continues.

''Gametogony'' then occurs, which is sexual division occurs endogenously, namely the intestinal cells. Merozoites then form either microgamonts (male) or macrogamonts (female).  Invasion of macrogametocytes containing cells by microgametocytes leads to fertilization, and the cycle continues.

[[Category:Coccidia]]

[[Category:Coccidia]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]