EIMEBIA. 



175 



and colour of the oocyst, the appearance of the oocyst wall, 

 the character of the micropyle, and the presence or absence 

 of a residual mass when the sporoblasts separate, as also the 

 shape and size of the sporocyst, are taken into account in 

 identifying the species. Allen (1934) gives a key to twenty- 

 four known species of Eimeria in birds. 



According to Dobell (1932), Leeuwenhoek probably first saw 

 the oocysts of rabbit Coccidia as far back as 1674, but, as 

 remarked by Wenrich (1935), it has only recently been demon- 

 strated beyond a doubt that rabbit Coccidia are peculiar to 



Fig. 80. — Life-cycle of Eimeria schubergi (Schaudinn). (x400.) 

 A, entrance of a sporozoite in the gut epithelium of the host 

 and growth of schizont ; B, three stages in schizogony to 

 form merozoites, which repeat schizogony ; or G, become 

 macro- and microgametocyte ; D, E, formation of macro- 

 gamete ; F-H, formation of microgaixietes ; I, mature 

 gametes and fertilization ; J, secretion of a membrane round 

 the zygote ; K—N, stages in sporocyst formation ; 0, oocyst 

 containing foxir sporocysts, each with two sporozoites ; 

 P, escape of the sporozoites. (From Kudo, after Schaudinn.) 



rabbits and difierent from those of cattle and poultry ; and 

 further, that rabbits may harbour five or six different species 

 of Eimeria, of which E. stiedss, occurring in the Hver, is the one 

 most often causing disease and death ; the other species 

 live in the intestine. 



