Megaloschizont

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Megaloschizonts are large schizonts that produce extremely high numbers of merozoites. They are found in various species of the Phylum Apicomplexa . The Apicomplexa phylum contains several parasitic protozoans. They have a very complex life cycle that includes several stages. Megaloschizonts and the smaller schizonts are the part of the life cycle that takes place inside the infected host organism and operates as an asexually reproductive cell. Megaloschizonts appear as grey-white nodules found in the smooth muscle of major organs, such as the heart, liver, lung or spleen.

Contents

History of the Term

The term was first used by Clay G. Huff from the University of Chicago. [1] In studying various infectious diseases caused by parasitic protozoans from the Apicomplexa phylum, Dr. Huff noticed two types of schizonts developing in the infected hosts. He noticed smaller schizonts were found in the hepatic regions of the host, these ranged in size from 11 to 18 micrometers. The larger schizonts, ranging in size from 60 to 105 micrometers, were found in blood vessels or in contact with the muscle tissue. Dr. Huff referred to these large schizonts as megaloshizonts. [1] It was hypothesized that in this particular case, the megaloschizont (produced asexually) was responsible for producing merozoites that would develop into gametocytes, the sexually reproducing stage of the Apicomplexa life cycle. [1] [2]

Background Information

Megaloshizonts are part of the Apicomplexa life cycle. They are formed during a process called schizogony, which can also be called merogony. This is an asexual reproductive process found primarily in parasitic protists. The parasitic, infectious cell that infects a host is called a sporozoite. This sporozoite infects the host organism by entering the blood stream and eventually settling in a vital organ such as the heart, liver, lung, or spleen. Once infecting the host organisms cell, the sporozoite begins feeding and growing. While it is feeding and growing, the cell is known as a trophozoite. This trophozoite is the cell that begins the process of schizogony. [2]

The process of schizogony is when a cell undergoes multiple nuclear divisions before undergoing cytokinesis or division of the cytoplasm. There is no specific number of nuclear divisions during schizogony. The number of nuclear divisions is species specific and even within a single species the number of nuclear divisions can differ depending on the phase of the life cycle. For example, Plasmodium (parasite that can cause malaria) undergoes four different types of schizogony producing anywhere from 8 to over 20,000 nuclei. [3] A cell currently undgergoing schizogony is known as a schizont. If a cell has a very large number of nuclei, it is known as a megaloschizont.

The thousands of nuclei in a megaloschizont become merozoites. Merozoites are non-mobile cells that are circulated through the host by the bloodstream and infect other cells in the host organism. Merozoites are released when the megaloschizont breaks apart. [2] This can be caused by the megaloschizont simply reaching full capacity and self-lysing of the membrane or it can be caused by the membrane being attacked by the organisms immune-response cells. [1]

Megaloschizont Producing Parasitic Species/Hosts

Haemoproteus infects reptiles and birds [4]

Nycteria infects bats [4]

Polychromophilus infects bats [4]

Hepatocystis infects monkeys and other mammals [4]

Leucocytozoon infects various avian species [5]

Eimeria infects mammals including rabbits and chamois [6]

Examples of Megaloschizont Infections

New Zealand, 2010: The endangered yellow-eyed penguin is found in southern New Zealand. The population has been reduced by more than 60% since 1990. Researchers collected blood samples from the penguins. They found Leucocytozoon hepatic megaloschizonts in up to 95% of the sampled organisms. This genus of parasite is known to cause many problems in closely related avian species. These problems include tissue damage, reduced fertility, and reduced growth. It was concluded that the yellow-eyed penguins were being infected by biting black flies in their nesting area. [5]

Scotland, 2006: A species of Besnoitia , a parasitic protozoan, from the Apicomplexa phyla was found in several parakeet-like avians in areas of Scotland. Megaloschizonts presented as gray nodules in several different areas of the infected organisms. The megaloschizonts were most numerous in the smooth muscle of the heart and gizzard, but were also found in smooth muscle of the intestine, lung, and skin. [7]

Miami MetroZoo, 1992: 4 cases of hepatic coccidiosis were found in a herd of chamois at the Miami MetroZoo. Chamois are antelope-like animals that are found naturally in the mountains of Europe. The animals at the zoo died over a 7-year period. After completing necropsies, it was determined that the organisms were infected with a parasitic protozoan of the genus Eimeria. This species had produced megaloschizonts in the intrahepatic bile ducts and portal veins. The presence of these megaloschizonts was hypothesized to have caused periportal hepatitis and fibrosis. The infectious disease was determined to have contributed to the death of the organisms. [6]

Florida, U.S., 1987: A wild turkey that died in captivity two days after capture was found to be infected with megaloschizonts from Haemoproteus meleagridis. Haemoproteus is a genus of parasitic protozoa that belong to the Apicomplexa phyla. The megaloschizont cells measured 50 to 100 micrometers. The merozoites inside the megaloschizonts were less than 1 micrometer in diameter. The infectious cells were found in various sections of the host organism including the liver, the spleen, the intestines, and the cloaca. Smooth muscle tissue surrounding the megaloschizont cells was found to be partially calcified, pale, swollen, and early signs of necrosis were noted. [8]

Related Research Articles

Apicomplexa A phylum of parasitic alveolates

The Apicomplexa are a large phylum of parasitic alveolates. Most of them possess a unique form of organelle that comprises a type of plastid called an apicoplast, and an apical complex structure. The organelle is an adaptation that the apicomplexan applies in penetration of a host cell.

<i>Plasmodium</i> Genus of parasitic protists that can cause malaria

Plasmodium is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. The life cycles of Plasmodium species involve development in a blood-feeding insect host which then injects parasites into a vertebrate host during a blood meal. Parasites grow within a vertebrate body tissue before entering the bloodstream to infect red blood cells. The ensuing destruction of host red blood cells can result in disease, called malaria. During this infection, some parasites are picked up by a blood-feeding insect, continuing the life cycle.

Coccidia A subclass of protists

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

Gametocyte Eukaryotic germ stem cell

A gametocyte is a eukaryotic germ cell that divides by mitosis into other gametocytes or by meiosis into gametids during gametogenesis. Male gametocytes are called spermatocytes, and female gametocytes are called oocytes.

<i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Species of single-celled organism

Plasmodium vivax is a protozoal parasite and a human pathogen. This parasite is the most frequent and widely distributed cause of recurring malaria. Although it is less virulent than Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of the five human malaria parasites, P. vivax malaria infections can lead to severe disease and death, often due to splenomegaly. P. vivax is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito; the males do not bite.

Eimeria tenella is a species of Eimeria that causes hemorrhagic cecal coccidiosis in young poultry. It is found worldwide.

Eimeria stiedae is a species of Eimeria that causes hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits. It was observed for the first time by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1674.

<i>Leucocytozoon</i> Genus of protists

Leucocytozoon is a genus of parasitic alveolates belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa.

Conoidasida Class of single-celled organisms

Conoidasida is a class of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa. The class was defined in 1988 by Levine and contains two subclasses – the coccidia and the gregarines. All members of this class have a complete, hollow, truncated conoid. Gregarines tend to parasitize invertebrates with the mature gamonts being extracellular, the coccidia mostly infect vertebrates and have intracellular gamonts.

Karyolysus is a genus of coccidia. With the exception of K. sonomae whose vertebrate host is the yellow-legged frog, species in this genus only infect lizards of the genus Lacerta.

Apicomplexan life cycle

Apicomplexans, a group of intracellular parasites, have life cycle stages evolved to allow them to survive the wide variety of environments they are exposed to during their complex life cycle. Each stage in the life cycle of an apicomplexan organism is typified by a cellular variety with a distinct morphology and biochemistry.

Dactylosoma is a genus of parasitic alveolates of the phylum Apicomplexia.

Leucocytozoon caulleryi is a species of the genus Leucocytozoon, a genus of parasitic alveolates.

Atoxoplasma is a genus of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa. The species in this genus infect birds. They are spread by the orofaecal route.

The Archigregarinorida are an order of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa. Species in this order infect marine invertebrates — usually annelids, ascidians, hemichordates and sipunculids.

Cytauxzoon is a genus of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa. The name is derived from the Greek meaning an increase in the number of cells in an animal.

The Ophryocystidae are a family of parasites in the phylum Apicomplexa. Species in this family infect insects.

Merogregarina is a genus of parasitic alveolate in the phylum Apicomplexa. Species in this genus infect marine invertebrates.

Plasmodium coatneyi is a parasitic species that is an agent of malaria in nonhuman primates. P. coatneyi occurs in Southeast Asia. The natural host of this species is the rhesus macaque and crab-eating macaque, but there has been no evidence that zoonosis of P. coatneyi can occur through its vector, the female Anopheles mosquito.

<i>Cystoisospora belli</i> Species of single-celled organism

Cystoisospora belli, previously known as Isospora belli, is a parasite that causes an intestinal disease known as cystoisosporiasis. This protozoan parasite is opportunistic in immune suppressed human hosts. It primarily exists in the epithelial cells of the small intestine, and develops in the cell cytoplasm. The distribution of this coccidian parasite is cosmopolitan, but is mainly found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world such as the Caribbean, Central and S. America, India, Africa, and S.E. Asia. In the U.S., it is usually associated with HIV infection and institutional living.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Huff, Clay G. (1942). Schizogony and gametocyte development in Leucocytozoon simondi and comparisons with Plasmodium and Haemoproteus in studying parasitic diseases. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Volume 71. Oxford University Press.
  2. 1 2 3 Apicomplexia lifecycle. Accessed 4/13/2012.
  3. ↑ Impact Malaria Training website. Accessed 4/13/12.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lainson, Ralph and Naiff, Roberto D. Haemoproteus (Apicomplexa: Haemoproteidae) of tortoises and turtles. (1998). The Royal Society. London.
  5. 1 2 Hill, A.G. and Howe, L. and Gartrell, B.D. and Alley, M.R. (2010). Prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp, in the endangered yellow-eyed penguin Megadyptes antipodes. Parasitology. Cambridge University Press. London.
  6. 1 2 Brunnert, Steven R., Citino, Scott B., Herron, Alan T., and Altman, Norman H. (1992). Hepatic coccidiosis in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. Volume 23. pp 276-280.
  7. ↑ Stidworthy, Mark F. and Greenwood, Andrew G. (2006). Deaths in aviary birds associated with protozoal megaloschizonts. Veterinary Record. Volume 159. Issue 18. UK.
  8. ↑ Atkinson, Carter T. and Forrester, Donald J. (1987). Myopathy associated with megaolschizonts of Haemoproteus meleagridis in a wild turkey from Florida. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. Volume 23. Issue 3. pp 495-499.
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