OTHER VICTIMS OF COCCIDIOSIS 141 



birds. The life-cycle is much like that of E. avimn 

 until spore-formation is reached, when two sporo- 

 cysts only are produced instead of four. To com- 

 pensate for this, however, four sporozoites are 

 produced in each spore, and thus the ultimate 

 result is eight sporozoites from one cyst, as in 

 E. avium. 



Coccidiidse also are responsible for disease among 

 cattle and goats, as before mentioned, but it must be 

 remembered that the development of the parasite 

 may produce the death of the host before its own 

 course is complete, and such is commonly the case 

 in cattle coccidiosis. Here numerous merozoites 

 are shed in the faeces, but cysts are rarely found. 

 The problem of the spread of cattle coccidiosis is 

 therefore one of great difficulty, yet one worthy of 

 attention among those who suffer loss from cattle 

 pest in tropical countries. 



Various Coccidia are known among invertebrate 

 animals such as insects, flatworms, and molluscs. 

 Hitherto little research has been conducted on the 

 effects of these parasites on their hosts, but we have 

 much evidence that they are far from being harmless 

 as, indeed, is the case with many other reputedly 

 innocent occupants of the bodies of other animals. 



In conclusion, it should be remarked that, as with 

 many other diseases, improvement in the hygienic 

 conditions of life of confined animals seems to offer 

 the best solution of the animal scourge so long 

 known as a malady, and so long misunderstood as to 

 its cause and prevention coccidiosis. 



