198 



THE TELOSPORASIDA AND THE COCCIDIA PROPER 



Life Cycle : Rutherford (1943) des- 

 cribed the life cycle of this species. The 

 endogenous stages are found above the 

 nuclei of the epithelial cells of the intes- 

 tine. There are 2 asexual generations of 

 merozoites, followed by microgamete and 

 macrogamete production. Completion of 

 the endogenous cycle takes 5 days, and 

 the prepatent period is 5 to 6 days. 



Pathogenesis : E. perforans is one 

 of the less pathogenic intestinal coccidia 

 of rabbits, but it may nevertheless cause 

 mild to moderate signs if the infection is 

 heavy enough. The duodenum may be en- 

 larged and edematous, sometimes chalky 

 white; the jejunum and ileum may contain 

 white spots and streaks, and there may 

 be petechiae in the cecum. 



production. Completion of the endogenous 

 cycle takes 6 days, and the prepatent per- 

 iod is 5 to 6 days. According to Kheisin 

 (1947), E. media produces 150, 000 oocysts 

 per oocyst fed. 



Pathogenesis : This species is moder- 

 ately pathogenic (Pelle'rdy and Babos, 1953). 

 It may cause the usual signs of intestinal 

 coccidiosis. The affected parts of the in- 

 testine may be edematous, with greyish 

 foci. 



EIMERIA IRRESIDUA 



KESSEL AND JANKIEWICZ, 1931 



Hosts : Domestic rabbit, California 

 jack rabbit {Lepus calif ornicus), white- 

 tailed jack rabbit (L. loivnsendii). 



EIMERIA MEDIA 

 KESSEL, 1929 



Synonym: Eimeria flavescens. 



Hosts : Domestic rabbit, California 

 jack rabbit (Lepus californicus), cotton- 

 tail {Sylvllagiis floridamis), Wyoming 

 cottontail (S. niiltallii grangeri). 



Location: Thruout small and large 

 intestines. 



Geographic Distribution : Worldwide. 



Prevalence : Quite common. Kessel 

 and Jankiewicz (1931) found it in 12% of 

 over 2000 rabbits in California. 



Morphology : The oocysts are ovoid, 

 smooth, 19 to 33 by 13 to 21 jii . A micro- 

 pyle is present. An oocyst polar granule 

 is absent. An oocyst residuum is present. 

 The sporocysts are elongate ovoid, with a 

 Stieda body. A sporocyst residuum is 

 present. The sporulation time is 2 days. 



Life Cycle : Rutherford (1943) and 

 Pellerdy and Babos (1953) described the 

 life cycle of this species. The endogenous 

 stages are found above or below the epi- 

 thelial cell nuclei of the intestinal villi 

 and also occur in the submucosa. There 

 are 2 asexual generations of merozoites 

 followed by microgamete and macrogamete 



Location : Thruout small intestine. 



Geographic Distribution: Worldwide. 



Prevalence : Quite common. Kessel 

 and Jankiewicz (1931) found this species 

 in 10% of over 2000 rabbits in California. 



Morphology : The oocysts are ovoid, 

 smooth, and 38 by 26 jm. The micropyle 

 is prominent. An oocyst polar granule 

 and oocyst residuum are absent. The 

 sporocysts are elongate ovoid, with a 

 Stieda body. A sporocyst residuum is 

 present. The sporulation time is 2 to 2. 5 

 days. 



Life Cycle : Rutherford (1943) des- 

 cribed the life cycle of this species. The 

 endogenous stages are found above or be- 

 low the epithelial cell nuclei of the intes- 

 tinal villi and also occur in the submucosa. 

 There are 2 asexual generations of mero- 

 zoites followed by microgamete and macro- 

 gamete production. Completion of the 

 endogenous cycle takes 9 to 10 days, and 

 the prepatent period is 9 to 10 days. 



Pathogenesis : This is one of the 

 more pathogenic of the intestinal coccidia 

 of rabbits. It causes the usual signs of 

 intestinal coccidiosis. The affected areas 

 are hyperemic, there may be extravasation 

 of blood, and the epithelium may slough 

 and become denuded. 



