Coccidia is a subclass of microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled obligate parasites belonging to the apicomplexan class

Conoidasida.[1] Coccidian parasites infect the intestinal tracts of animals[2], and are the largest group of apicomplexan protozoa.

Coccidia are obligate, intracellular parasites, which means that they must live and reproduce within an animal cell.

They form a subclass within the Conoidasida and are divided into four orders distinguished by the presence or absence of various
asexual and sexual stages.

Aspect/ COCCIDIA: COCCIDIA: COCCIDIA:

Organism/ Genus Cryposporidium Genus Isospora Genus Sarcocystis
species
Causes disease Cryptosporidiosis Human coccidiasas: Isosporiasis Muscle sarcocystosis in man
(OI) (OI)
Species involved Crysptosporidium parvum Isospora beli (in man) S. lindemanni
Geo distribution WW WW, Central & South America, WW
-travelers Africa & SEA
-day care centre
Water borne outbreaks
Host DH varies according to species No intermediate host Infection very common in cattle,
Young children The only known coccidian for which sheep & pigs
AIDS patients man is the DH Reported in few cases in man
No Intermediate host Zoonosis
Habitat GIT and respiratory tract Skeletal & smooth m/s – trunk,
-on brush border of limbs, esophagus , diaphragm –
-just under surface membrane harbour asexual cystic stages
-not in cell proper
-free in crypt Intestine – harbour asexual & sexual
May be bile & pancreatic ducts, + gall stages - Man is the DH
bladder
Male & female gametocytes develop
in the lamina propria of the small
intestine

producing oocysts that sporulated

and are passed in feces
Human Infection Ingestion of sporulated oozyst Accidental hand-to-mouth ingestion Mature tetrasporozoic sporocyst
by / Excystation in upper GIT of sporulated oocyst
Mode of infection Sporozoites invade the epithelial cells of
ileum
Morphology Sporulated oocyst Oocyst Asexual cystic stage in muscles:
2 x 4-5 µ -in stool Size: according to stage of
Rounded or oval -large, 25-30 x 12 development and species
Contains 4 slender fusiform sporozoites -typical ellipsoidal shape Shape: Cylindrical, fusiform,
rounded or oval
In fresh feces
-when excreted, they r immature, 2 sporulated sporocyst contains 4
contain one sporoblast ... with sporozoites
granular cytoplasm, within a smooth
colourless 2-layered wall,
unsporulated
-division into 2 sporoblasts, secrete
a cyst wall 
Sporocyst – 4 elongated nucleated
sporozoites

++characterised by having
disporocystic tetrasporozoic oocyst
Reproduction / Life cycle: Cycle in human intestinal epithelium
Life cycle Prepatent period 5 – 21 days 1.asexual schizogony
Oocyst: 2.gametogony
1.passed w feces: thick walled 3.oocyst maturation, discharged in
2.hatch in lumen:thin walled  autoinfection any stage of maturation
Sporulation needs a few days
There is an obligatory 2-host cycle,
involving 2 vertebrate hosts.
*.A schizogonous (asexual) cycle
occurs in the intermediate host, or
prey (herbivores/omnivores)

Period of intracellular multiplication
in the vascular endothelial cells of
the liver rf brain
invasion of muscle cells
development of characteristic
septate cysts (containing organisms
of up to 15 µ in length)

muscle cysts are EATEN by DH

Sexual stage of multiplication
occurs in the intestinal mucosa of
the predator, or DH

excretion of oocysts & sporocysts

EATEN by prey
 ...continue cycle*
Clinical Immunocompetent Majority symptomless Local symptoms:
manifestatn Indi: Mile gastrointestinal distress -muscle tenderness
Gastroenteritis: self-limiting diarrhea 3-10 (nausea, pain, chronic diarrhea) -associated w cystic changes in
days Severe dysentery or diarrhea esp in striated m/s
Immunocompromised (AIDS): AIDS Generalized symptoms
-persistent, cholera-like diarrhea w vomiting Loose fecal fat suggestive of -pain & swelling of an isolated m/s
-protracted watery diarrhea malabsorptn -dyspnea & wheezing
-cramping abdominal pain, fever Self-limiting
&dehydration
Diagnosis Stool examination directly Stool examination: Cysts in m/s
Acid fast stain: bright red or pink oval or -+ve only in heavy infections Oocyst w sporozoites in feces
rounded bodies against green bg -concentratn methods r required Seropositivity is high among Orang
-unless iodine stained oocyst, very Asli, in Malay, Chinese and Indian
IgG & IgM demonstration by ELISA or IFA difficult to recognise

Indirect or direct FAT (fluorescent antibody

techniques) for staining oocyst in stools
Treatment Spiramycin 1 gm t.d.s. for 2 weeks Rest & balanced diet No known treatment
Self-limiting
Trimethprim, Sulphamethoxazole
mixture
Prevention .good personal hygiene
.avoid contact w infected hosts
.proper disposal of feces
.clean drinking water supply