Endogenous development of a pure strain of Eimeria media and of a precocious line derived from this strain was studied in specific pathogen-free (SPF) rabbits. Endogenous development of the parental strain comprised three generations and the gamogony began 76 h post-inoculation (pi). Two types of meronts were observed in each generation. The type A meronts gave rise to large, polynucleated merozoites present in low numbers. Multiplication was carried out by endomerogony. Within type B meronts, merozoites arose from ectomerogony. These were slender and more numerous than those of type A. The sporozoite refractile body was divided and distributed into the first and second generation merozoites but not into the third. The endogenous development of the precocious line was similar to that of the parental strain except that no refractile body was observed and the last merogony was absent. Gamogony appeared 60 h pi.

Institute of Parasitology Ceské Budejovice Czech Republic

Selection of a precocious line of the rabbit coccidium Eimeria flavescens Marotel and Guilhon (1941) and characterisation of its endogenous cycle

The rabbit coccidium Eimeria flavescens Marotel and Guilhon, 1941: an electron microscopic study of its life cycle