Coccidia
Coccidia oocysts
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Chromalveolata
Superphylum:	Alveolata
Phylum:	Apicomplexa
Class:	Conoidasida
Subclass:	Coccidia or Coccidiasina
Orders
Agamococcidiorida Eucoccidiorida Ixorheorida Protococcidiorida

Coccidia (Coccidiasina) is a subclass of microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled obligate intracellular parasites belonging to the apicomplexan class Conoidasida.^[1] Obligate intracellular parasites means that they must live and reproduce within an animal cell. Coccidian parasites infect the intestinal tracts of animals,^[2] and are the largest group of apicomplexan protozoa.

Infection with these parasites is known as coccidiosis.

Taxonomy[link]

The class is divided into four orders which are distinguished by the presence or absence of various asexual and sexual stages:

• Order Agamococcidiorida Levine 1979
• Order Eucoccidiorida Léger & Duboscq 1910
• Order Ixorheorida Levine 1984
• Order Protococcidiorida Kheisin 1956

The order Eucoccidiorida is divided into two suborders. These these two groups differ in their sexual development: syzygy for Adeleorina and independent gametes for Eimeriorina.

The first suborder, Adeleorina, comprises coccidia of invertebrates and the coccidia that alternate between blood-sucking invertebrates and various vertebrates; this group includes Haemogregarina and Hepatozoon. There are seven families in this suborder.

The second suborder, Eimeriorina, comprises coccidia of a variety of coccidia many of which are cyst forming. A number of genera infect vertebrates including Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis.

See also[link]

• cryptosporidiosis
• List of parasites (human)
• Zoalene is a fodder additive for poultry, used to prevent infections from coccidia.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Coccidiosis treatment Coccidiosis treatment for Calves and Lambs
• Mar Vista Animal Medical Center.
• The Coccidia of the World, Donald W. Duszynski, Steve J. Upton, Lee Couch, Feb. 21, 2004.
• Life Cycle EIMERIA, Andreas Weck-Heimann, 1996–2005
• FarmingUK, Information about Coccidiosis

• Lillehoj, Hyun S. (October 1996). "Two Strategies for Protecting Poultry From Coccidia". Agricultural Research magazine (United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service) (October 1996). http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct96/coccidia1096.htm.  Describes using live-parasite vaccine versus a monoclonal antibody to block the sporozoite from invading a host's cell.