The Monoxenous Life Cycle Of Eimeria

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Introduction

Figure 1. Image of Eimeria maxima from poultry. This cell is in the sporulated oocyst stage, which is clear from the four ovals within the cell. Photograph was taken by S.J. Upton of Kansas State University. http://www.k-state.edu/parasitology/625tutorials/Oocysts02.html


By Emma Stewart-Bates


Eimeria is a genus of protozoa that are parasitic to many vertebrate animals, most often cattle, domesticated birds, goats, and sheep. These parasites contain an apical complexes and apicoplasts, organelles that allow the cell to enter a host organism. The life cycle of Eimeria is considered monoxenous, meaning that the cycle occurs in one host. The three stages of its life cycle include oocyst, sporozoite, and merozoite. They undergo both sexual and asexual reproduction during different stages of their life. Animals infected by Eimeria often develop the disease coccidiosis, which mainly causes diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Coccidiosis is spread when an animal ingests infected tissue or is exposed to contaminated feces.[1] The spread of coccidiosis costs the poultry market an enormous amount of money each year. As a result, much research has been conducted on how to manage and treat the outbreak of Eimeria infections. This research includes the benefits and disadvantages of anticoccidial medications, vaccinations, and other treatment measures, as well as how those measures work within the body of the host organism.[2]


Life Cycle

Figure 2. Illustration of the life cycle of Eimeria. Image from the USDA website. https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/animal-parasitic-diseases-laboratory/docs/coccidiosis/


Phase Morphology

Metabolism

Figure 3. The mannitol cycle occurs mainly during the sexual phase of the Eimerian life cycle. The conversion between fructose-6-phosphate and mannitol involves four enzymes. Among other activities, this metabolism powers oocyst sporulation for the Eimeria. [3]
Figure 4. The enzymes that function in the mannitol cycle appear to be the most active around the temperature level of the body of the host organisms. [4]


Infection and Diagnosis

Effects on the Body

Figure 5. The destructive effect of an Eimeria praecox infection on the mucosal layer of the duodenum. One of the largest effects of Eimeria infection is shortening of the villi in the intestines. [5]

Treatment and Prevention

Impact on Poultry Market

Immunization

Figure 6. The mean number of oocysts per day of age for medicated and vaccinated birds in a study of 936,000 chickens.The medicated chickens showed one peak in oocyst counts around 35 days old, while the vaccinated chickens showed two peaks in oocyst counts around 21 days and 35 days. [6]

Conclusion

References

  1. ↑ "Eimeria." The Australian Society for Parasitology Inc., 16 June 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.
  2. ↑ "Recent Advances in Biology and Immunobiology of Eimeria Species and in Diagnosis and Control of Infection with These Coccidian Parasites of Poultry." Clinical Microbiology Reviews 15.1 (2002): 58-65. Web.
  3. ↑ Schmatz, D.M., Baginsky, W.F., and Turner, M.J. “Evidence for and characterization of a mannitol cycle in Eimeria tenella.” Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 32.2-3 (1989): 263-270.
  4. ↑ Schmatz, D.M., Baginsky, W.F., and Turner, M.J. “Evidence for and characterization of a mannitol cycle in Eimeria tenella.” Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 32.2-3 (1989): 263-270.
  5. ↑ https://eimeriaprevention.com/news/coccidiosis-in-chickens-and-subclinical-species-of-eimeria/ “Coccidiosis in chickens: the role of subclinical species of Eimeria.” Eimeria Prevention. HIPRA, 16 Sept. 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.]
  6. ↑ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020751998002124 Williams, R.B., W.W.H. Carlyle, D.R. Bond, and I.A.G. Brown. “The efficacy and economic benefits of ParacoxⓇ, a live attenuated anticoccidial vaccine, in commercial trials with standard broiler chickens in the United Kingdom.” International Journal for Parasitology 29(1999): 341-355. Web..]



Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski, 2017, Kenyon College.

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