Choleoeimeria


Choleoeimeria is a genus of alveolate parasites that infect the biliary tracts of reptiles. Morphologically they are similar to the Eimeria, to whom they are closely related. The genus was described in 1989 by Paperna and Landsberg.

General features

The endogenous development of the parasite occurs in the cells of the bile epithelium.
The infected host cell becomes hypertrophic and emerges above the epithelial surface. This hypertrophy coincides with a drastic depletion of the microvilli. The junction zone along with the underlying cell extends into numerous long and fine membranal out-folds.
Meront: These undergo binary fission.
Microgamont: The differentiating microgamont develops an expanded multilobed body.
Macrogamont: The organelles include type 1 and type 2 wall forming bodies, canaliculi and granular bodies.
Oocyte: The oocyst wall forms from 4 wall-membranes consolidating over the zygote plasmalemma. The oocysts possess four sporocysts each containing two sporozoites.
These species possess bivalved sporocysts and lack a Stieda body.

Host-parasite relations