Isospora
Encyclopedia
Isospora is a genus of internal parasites classified under Coccidia
.
It is responsible for the condition isosporiasis
.
At least 248 species have been described in this genus, but most of them are little studied and it is doubtful whether all should be recognized as distinct species. Some have proposed splitting those species with paratenic
hosts into separate genera Levinia or Cystoisospora, but as of 1997 this had not been widely accepted.
Coccidia
Coccidia is a subclass of microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled obligate parasites belonging to the apicomplexan class Conoidasida. Coccidian parasites infect the intestinal tracts of animals, and are the largest group of apicomplexan protozoa....
.
It is responsible for the condition isosporiasis
Isosporiasis
Isosporiasis is a human intestinal disease caused by the parasite Isospora belli. It is found worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Infection often occurs in immuno-compromised individuals, notably AIDS patients, and outbreaks have been reported in institutionalized groups in the...
.
At least 248 species have been described in this genus, but most of them are little studied and it is doubtful whether all should be recognized as distinct species. Some have proposed splitting those species with paratenic
Paratenic
In parasitology, the term paratenic describes a host which is not needed for the development of the parasite, but nonetheless serves to maintain the life cycle of the parasite. Alaria americana may serve as an example: the so-called mesocercarial stages of this parasite reside in tadpoles, which...
hosts into separate genera Levinia or Cystoisospora, but as of 1997 this had not been widely accepted.