Piroplasmida
Order of parasites in phylum Apicomplexa, vertebrate hosts, tick and leech vectors
| Piroplasmida phylogeny (mtDNA) |
Piroplasmida is an order of parasites in the phylum Apicomplexa. They divide by binary fission and as sporozoan parasites they possess sexual and asexual phases (sexual reproduction occurs in the tick gut). They include the tick parasites Babesia and Theileria.
01Description
They are minute rounded or pyriform parasites found within erythrocytes, or other circulating or endothelial cells of vertebrates, where they reproduce by merogony. The trophozoite stage is separated from erythrocyte by a single membrane. This distinguishes them from other blood parasites that usually have at least two membranes.
An apical complex with a polar ring and rhopteries occurs, but without a conoid and usually without associated pellicular microtubules. They lack flagella and do not form either oocysts or spores.
The known vectors are ticks or leeches in which they undergo sporogony; sexual reproduction probably occurs in the vector.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Piroplasmida”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Babiesa spp.jpg by Photo Credit: Content Providers(s): CDC/ Steven Glenn; Laboratory & Consultation Division, Public domain
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