coccidia

coc·cid·i·um   (kŏk-sĭd'ē-əm)    n.   pl. coc·cid·i·a (-ē-ə) Any of various parasitic protozoans belonging to the order Coccidia and responsible for a disease of the alimentary canal in livestock, fowl, and humans. [New Latin Coccidium, former genus name : coccus + -idium, diminutive suff. (from Greek -idion).]

Main Entry: coc·cid·ia
Pronunciation: käk-'sid-E-&
Function: noun plural
1 capitalized : a large order of schizogonictelosporidian sporozoans typically parasites of the digestive epithelium of vertebrates and higher invertebrates and including several forms of great economic importance —see CRYPTOSPORIDIUM, EIMERIA, HAEMOGREGARINA, ISOSPORA
2 : sporozoans of the order Coccidia —coc·cid·i·al /(')käk-'sid-E-&l/ adjective

Coccidia Coc·cid·i·a (kŏk-sĭd'ē-ə)
n.
An order of protozoans that are intracellular parasites in many vertebrates.

coccidia

(order Coccidea), any of a large group of protozoan parasites of the sporozoan type. Coccidia live in both vertebrates and invertebrates, primarily in the lining cells of the intestine; they cause the disease coccidiosis. The two main phases in the life cycle are free-living oocysts (encapsulated zygotes), which are discharged by contaminated animals, and parasitic sporozoites, which live inside the animal. Reproduction occurs in both the sexual and asexual phases. Important genera include Isospora, Eimeria, and Plasmodium.

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