Elleipsisoma is a genus of parasitic protozoa within the phylum

Phylum

In biology, a phylum The term was coined by Georges Cuvier from Greek φῦλον phylon, "race, stock," related to φυλή phyle, "tribe, clan." is a taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class. "Phylum" is equivalent to the botanical term division....

 Apicomplexia.

History

This parasite was described in 1912 by Franca. This genus may have been described earlier by Graham-Smith

The type species is Elleipsisoma thomsoni

Hosts

This parasite infects the European mole (Talpa europaea). It is most commonly found in the heart

Heart

The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...

 and lungs. It may occasionally be found in the kidney

Kidney

The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...

s, liver

Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...

 and spleen

Spleen

The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...

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Description

Parasitized red cells were larger than normal mature erythrocytes

Electron microscopic studies have shown the presence of rhoptries

Rhoptry

A rhoptry is a specialized secretory organelle. They are club-shaped organelles connected by thin necks to the extreme apical pole of the parasite. These organelles, like micronemes, are characteristic of the motile stages of Apicomplexa protozoans. They can vary in number and shape and contain...

, microneme

Microneme

Micronemes are cellular organs, or organelles, possessed by Apicomplexa protozoans that are restricted to the apical third of the protozoan body. They are surrounded by a typical unit membrane. On electorn microscopy they have an electron-dense matrix due to the high protein content...

s, polar ring, microtubule

Microtubule

Microtubules are a component of the cytoskeleton. These rope-like polymers of tubulin can grow as long as 25 micrometers and are highly dynamic. The outer diameter of microtubule is about 25 nm. Microtubules are important for maintaining cell structure, providing platforms for intracellular...

s and a conoid

Conoid

In geometry, a conoid is a Catalan surface all of whose rulings intersect a fixed line, called the axis of the conoid. If all its rulings are perpendicular to its axis, then the conoid is called a right conoid....

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Vectors

Possible vectors include the mite

Mite

Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...

s Eulaelaps stabularis

Eulaelaps

Eulaelaps is a genus of mites in the family Haemogamasidae.-Species:* Eulaelaps arboricola Uchikawa, 1978* Eulaelaps dremomydis Gu & Wang, 1984* Eulaelaps feideri * Eulaelaps heptacanthus Yang & Gu, 1985...

, Haemogamasus hirsutus

Haemogamasus

Haemogamasus is a genus of mites in the family Haemogamasidae.. In North America, they mostly infect rodents, in addition to other small mammals such as shrews, talpids, and Virginia opossums....

and Haemogamasus nidi

Haemogamasus

Haemogamasus is a genus of mites in the family Haemogamasidae.. In North America, they mostly infect rodents, in addition to other small mammals such as shrews, talpids, and Virginia opossums....

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