Eimeria falciformis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eimeria falciformis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Conoidasida |
| Order: | Eucoccidiorida |
| Family: | Eimeriidae |
| Genus: | Eimeria |
| Species: | E. falciformis |
| Binomial name | |
| Eimeria falciformis Eimer, 1870 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Eimeria falciformis is an obligate intracellular parasite that primarily infects the mouse species Mus musculus.[1] As part of the Apicomplexa phylum, it has a complex life cycle within its host, causing tissue necrosis and inflammation, particularly in the cecum. This leads to coccidiosis, a disease characterized by symptoms like diarrhoea and weight loss. E. falciformis is one of over 1,700 species in the Eimeria genus, which infects the intestinal epithelial cells of various animals, including poultry and livestock.
Transmission occurs via oocysts, which are shed in faeces. Under suitable environmental conditions—such as proper temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels—these oocysts sporulate.[2] When a new host ingests sporulated oocysts, sporozoites are released and invade the cecal epithelial cells. Inside the host, sporozoites develop into trophozoites and then merozoites, which undergo rounds of asexual reproduction (schizogony), leading to host cell rupture. Some merozoites become sexual gametes, which fuse to form unsporulated oocysts. These are excreted in faeces, completing the life cycle.[3]