|
Apicomplexa (apicomplexans, sporozoans)
Life
> Eukaryotes >
Chromalveolata > Alveolata
Apicomplexa are spore-forming single-celled
parasites of animals and include species that cause
malaria, coccidiosis,
redwater, corridor disease, east coast fever and biliary.
The most important genus medically is
Plasmodium
as it includes the malaria parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.
Isospora belli and I. hominis parasitise human intestines causing
coccidiosis or isosporosis. Sarcocystis is found in the muscles of many
vertebrate animals. Tick-borne diseases of domestic animals caused by
apicomplexans include redwater (Babesia bigemina and B. ovis),
corridor disease (Theileria lawrenci), east coast fever (Theileria
parva), biliary fever of horses (Babesia equi), and biliary fever of
dogs (Babesia canis). Synonyms: Sporozoa, Telosporidea.
Colpodellida
Genera: Alphamonas, Colpodella, Voromonas. |
|
Aconoidasida |
|
| |
Haemosporida
(haemosporidians)
Blood parasites of vertebrates. Includes Plasmodium species,
some of which are the causative agents of malaria, which kills and
debilitates millions of people annually, especially in Africa. |
|
| |
Piroplasmorida
(piroplasmids) [= Piroplasmida]
Blood parasites of fish, mammals and reptiles (including
birds). Vectors of terrestrial hosts are usually species of tick. Babesia
species cause redwater in cattle, biliary fever in horses and dogs, and
babesiosis in people. Theileria causes corridor disease and east
coast fever. |
|
Conoidasida |
|
| |
Coccidiasina
[= Coccidia]
Blood parasites of, mainly, vertebrates.
Isospora belli and I. hominis parasitise human intestines causing
coccidiosis or isosporosis. Sarcocystis is found in the muscles of many
vertebrate animals.
Genera: Besnoitia, Caryospora, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Eimeria, Frenkelia, Hammondia, Hepatozoon, Isospora, Lankesterella, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Toxoplasma. |
|
| |
Gregarinasina (gregarines)
[= Gregarinia]
Parasites of the gut and body cavity of invertebrates and lower Chordates.
|
|
Publications
-
Adl, S.M., Simpson, A.G., Farmer, M.A., Andersen, R.A.,
Anderson, O.R., Barta, J.R., Bowser, S.S., Brugerolle, G., Fensome, R.A.,
Fredericq, S., James, T.Y., Karpov, S., Kugrens, P., Krug, J., Lane, C.E.,
Lewis, L.A., Lodge, J., Lynn, D.H., Mann, D.G., McCourt, R.M., Mendoza, L.,
Moestrup, Ø., Mozley-Standridge, S.E., Nerad, T.A., Shearer, C.A., Smirnov,
A.V., Spiegel, F.W. and Taylor, M.F.J.R. 2005. The new higher level
classification of eukaryotes with emphasis on the taxonomy of protists. Eukaryote Microbiology 52(5): 399-451.
Text by Hamish Robertson |
