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Eimeria 1

The document provides an overview of the phylum Apicomplexa, highlighting its defining characteristics such as the presence of an apical complex and its parasitic nature. It specifically discusses Eimeria tenella, a species that affects chickens, detailing its classification, habitat, morphology, and nutritional habits. The life cycle of E. tenella includes various stages, and it primarily feeds by absorbing nutrients from its host.

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16 views11 pages

Eimeria 1

The document provides an overview of the phylum Apicomplexa, highlighting its defining characteristics such as the presence of an apical complex and its parasitic nature. It specifically discusses Eimeria tenella, a species that affects chickens, detailing its classification, habitat, morphology, and nutritional habits. The life cycle of E. tenella includes various stages, and it primarily feeds by absorbing nutrients from its host.

Uploaded by

loverboyaminul002
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Phylum: Apicomplexa

Dr. Tonima Mustafa


Associate Professor
Department of Zoology
Jagannath University
General characteristics of Apicomplexa
• L. apex, tip or summit, complex, twisted around.

• The presence of a certain combination of organelles (apical or polar ring,


rhoptries, microneme and conoid), the apical complex, distinguishes this
phylum.

• The apical complex is usually present only in certain developmental


stages of the organisms eg. merozoites and sporozoites.

• All apicomplexans are endoparasites, and their hosts include many animal
phyla.
Fig. An Apicomplexan organism
• At some point in the life cycle, the organisms develop a spore (oocyst),
which is infective for the next host and is often protected by a resistant
coat. Oocyst
General characteristics of Apicomplexa
• Some structures, especially the rhoptries and micronemes,
apparently aid in penetrating the host’s cells or tissues.

• Locomotor organelles are less obvious in this group than in


other protozoa.

• Pseudopodia occur in some intracellular stages, and gametes


of some species are flagellated.

• Tiny contractile fibrils can form waves of contraction across the


body surfaces to propel the organism through a liquid medium.

• The life cycle usually includes both asexual and sexual


reproduction, and sometimes an invertebrate intermediate host.
Fig. An Apicomplexan organism
Classification of Apicomplexa
• Class 1: Perkensea
• Order 1: Perkensida
• Class 2: Sporozoa
• Subclass 1: Grerarinia
• Order1: Archegregarinida
• Order 2: Eugregarinida
• Order 3: Neogregarinida
• Subclass 2: Coccidia
• Order 1: Aganococcidida
• Order 2: Coelotrophida
• Order 3: Adeleida
• Order 4: Eimeriida
• Order 5: Haemosporida
• Subclass 3: Piroplasmia
• Order 1: Piroplasmida
Eimeria tenella
• Eimeria belongs to the Phylum Apicomplexa, Class- Sporozoa, Sub-class-Coccidia.

• They are generally intracellular parasites of epithelial lining of host’s alimentary canal.

• Among Eimeria, E. tenella is discussed here as a type and


representative species which causes severe damage to poultry.

• E. tenella is extremely host (Chicken) specific.

• It effects the caeca of chicken and cause cecal coccidiosis.


Systematic or taxonomic position of Eimeria tenella
Kingdom: Protista

Subkingdom: Protozoa

Phylum: Apicomplexa

Class: Sporozoa

Order: Eucoccidia

Family: Eimeriidae

Genus: Eimeria

Species: E. tenella
Habit and habitat of E. tenella
• Habit: Parasitic (intracellular) mode of life

• Host: Chicken

• Distribution: Worldwide

• Habitat: Caeca of chicken


Morphology or Structure of E. tenella
• Eimeria tenella passes different morphological stages in its life cycle

• Oocyst

• Sporozoite

• Trophozoite

• Schizont

• Merozoite

• Gamonts
Morphology or Structure of E. tenella
Trophozoite
• The full grown trophozoite is small, spherical and simple in
structure.

• The cytoplasm is granular and contains a single nucleus.

• The nucleus of full grown trophozoite also contains a small


endosome in its Centre.

• Mouth, gullet, anus and locomotory organelles are absent due


to parasitic mode of life.

Fig. Trophozoite stage of E. tenella


Nutrition of E. tenella

Saprozoic ( Obtaining nourishment by absorption of dissolved organic and inorganic materials, as


occurs in certain protozoa and some fungi. Feeding on dead or on decaying animal matter).

• It feeds mainly on the dissolved food of the host by absorbing it i.e. osmotrophy.

• It also subsists on the contents of the cell of the host in which it is living.
Thank You

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