Schizocystis

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Schizocystis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Sar
Superphylum: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Conoidasida
Order: Neogregarinorida
Family: Schizocystidae
Genus: Schizocystis
Léger, 1900
Species

Schizocystis armata
Schizocystis gregarinoides
Schizocystis legeri
Schizocystis spinigeri

Contents

Schizocystis is a genus of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa.

Species in this genus infect insects (Diptera).

History

This genus was described by Léger in 1900. [1]

Taxonomy

The type species is Schizocystis gregarinoides.

Lifecycle

The parasites develop in extracellular locations. The trophozoites are large, band like and wide. They have longitudinal striae and are aseptate. A mucron of small pseudopods or sucker is present. The nuclei are large.

Merogony occurs once in the lifecycle. Nuclear division proceeds with binary fission during growth. Cytokinesis occurs to form uninucleate merozoites arranged in clusters in the shape of the trophozoite. The merozoites become free by dropping off the parent trophozoite.

Gamonts, gametocysts and oocysts are of the actinocephalid type with syzygy occurring just before gametocyst formation.

The young gamonts are vermiform (wormlike). The gametocysts are mostly spherical. The oocysts are spindle-shaped with eight sporozoites.

References

  1. Leger L (1909) Le genre Schizocystis. Arch Protistenk 18:83-110