430 



MICROBIOLOGY 



placed in inverse direction the rounded extremity of cne be- 

 ing in contact with the pointed extremity of the ether and 

 between them may be seen the remains of the granular mass. 

 In this state the cysts may exist without alteration for a very 

 long time in external media. Introduced into the intestine 

 with the food or water, the ripe cysts are dissolved by the 

 pancreatic juice ; the sporocysts, set free, open and liberate the 

 sporozoites which more or less rapidly gain the biliary canals 

 and invade their epithelial cells. 



The multiplication of Coccidium oviforme, within the 



C ,. 



Fig. 99. Coccidium oviforme in the section of a rabbit's liver. Ep, 

 epithelial cells; C, coccidia. (After Thoma and Kitt). 



epithelial cells, is accompanied by fecundation and by schizo- 

 genesis after the manner already indicated. Fecundation has 

 not been observed in Coccidium, but probably it is identical 

 with that which has been seen in allied species. Influenced by 

 chemotactic attraction, several microgametes come in contact 

 with the macrogamete; one of them penetrates by the micro- 

 pyle, which is then closed. The male nucleus blends with the 

 female nucleus, and together they constitute the oocyst: it is 

 the encysted coccidium or sporont, which by sporogenesis will 

 produce sporoblasts, then sporozoites. 



