COCCIDIUM CUNICULI 



77 



In order to systematically classify the coccidia the form and 

 number of the spores and the number of sporozoites are taken 

 into account. Accordingly the following are differentiated : 



I. Disporea, forming only two spores. 



(1) Cyclospora, Schndr., each with two sporozoites. 



(2) Isospora, Schndr., each with four sporozoites. 



II. Tetrasporea, forming four spores. 



(3) Coccidium, Lckt., each with two sporozoites ; spores globular or 



oval. 



(4) Crystallospora, Labbe, each witti two sporozoites ; spores in the 



shape of a double pyramid. 



III. Polysporea, forming more than four spores. 

 (a) Oocysts, with sporoducts. 



(5) Gymnospora, Mon. (probably a Gregarinida). 

 (6) Oocysts, without sporoducts. 



(6) Barrouxia, Schndr., spores with one sporozoite. 



(7) Adelea, Schndr., spores with two sporozoites. 



(8) Legeria, R. Blanch. (= Benedenia, Schndr., nee Dies.), spores globular, 



with three sporozoites. 



(9) Klossia, Schndr., spores round, with four sporozoites. 



(10) Hyaloklossia, Labbe, spores oval, with two or four sporozoites. 



IV. Asporocystidea, forming numerous naked sporozoites. 



(n) Legerella,M.esn. 



THE COCCIDIA OBSERVED IN MAN. 

 Gen. Coccidium (R. Lckt. 1879). 



Spores of a -fusiform, oval, or globular form, in each of which there are two 

 sporozoites, in addition to a roundish residual body. The species live in the 

 intestine, liver and kidney of vertebrate and invertebrate animals ; a few give 

 rise to epidemic diseases, more particularly in domestic animals. 



i. Coccidium cuniculi (Rivolta, 1878). 



Syn. Psorospermium cuniculi, Riv., 1878 ; Coccidium oviforme, R. Lckt., 

 1879- 



In this species the fertilised sporont stage (oocyst) has been 

 known the longest and is found in .the coccidium nodules so 

 common in the liver of rabbits. It is oval, 0-033 0-049 mm. 

 in length, 0-015 0-028 mm. in breadth, and surrounded by an 

 integument with a double outline which, according to some state- 

 ments, has an opening at the pointed pole (fig. 31, a, b). The 

 plasm, which is somewhat coarsely granular, entirely fills the 

 integument or is gathered together into a round central mass. 

 At this stage the parasites are evacuated in the natural way 



