Isospora spp.

Isospora suis from a pig - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Isospora - Joaquim Castellà Veterinary Parasitology Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

• Many species occur

Isospora felis sporulated - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Isospora felis unsporulated - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

• All species are host specific

• Sporulated oocyst contains 2 sporocysts each with 4 sporozoites
  • Oocyst measures 20-50μm

• Usually direct life cycle
  • Transmission via the oral-faecal route

• Some species use facultative intermediate hosts and form tissue cysts
  • Transmission via faecal-oral route or by ingestion of the intermediate host