− | ''E. tenella'' affects chickens. The occysts are ovoid, and colourless, measuring around 20μm in length. The chicken ingests the oocysts, and breaks down the wall, releasing the sporocysts. These then become sporozoites upon entering the small intestine. The sporozoites become merozoites, which enter the caecum, and develop into micro- and macrogametes, which produce eggs. The eggs are then past in faeces by the host. The prepatent period is 132 hours. | + | ''E. tenella'' affects chickens. The occysts are ovoid, and colourless, measuring around 20μm in length. The chicken ingests the oocysts, and breaks down the wall, releasing the sporocysts. These then become sporozoites upon entering the small intestine. The sporozoites become merozoites, which enter the caecum, and develop into micro- and macrogametes, which produce eggs. The eggs are then past in faeces by the host. The prepatent period is 132 hours. |