Cyclospora
Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Conoidasida
Order: Eucoccidiorida
Family: Eimeriidae
Genus: Cyclospora
Schneider, 1881

Cyclospora is a genus of apicomplexan parasites. It includes the species Cyclospora cayetanensis, the causative agent of cyclosporiasis.[1] Members of Cyclospora are characterized as having oocysts with two sporocysts, each containing two sporozoites.[2]

Species

Several Cyclospora species have been described in various mammals including:[2]

A smaller number of species have been described from reptiles, arthropods, and snakes:[2]

Taxonomy and evolution

Cyclospora are eukaryotes in the phylum Apicomplexa.[3] Within the Apicomplexa, Cyclospora belong to the sub-class Coccidia and family Eimeriidae.

Taxonomy of the coccidia is based upon morphological descriptions of observed parasites, and therefore does not always reflect evolutionary relationships.[3] Genetic studies of the well-conserved SSU rRNA from various specimens has suggested that parasites in Cyclospora may be more closely related to some species of Eimeria that infect birds than the rest of the genus Eimeria is.[3][4] Relationships among various coccidia estimated for SSU rRNA sequences are shown in the cladogram below:[4]

Family Sarcocystidae

Family Eimeriidae

Caryospora

Lankesterella

Eimeria species of rodents and bats

Eimeria species of sheep and bovids

Cyclospora

Eimeria species of birds

History

The genus Cyclospora was created in 1881 to describe a parasite found in a millipede of the genus Glomeris.[5]

References

  1. ^ Kansas State University - Parasitology - Cyclospora cayetanensis
  2. ^ a b c Duszynski DW, Upton SJ, Couch L (1998). "The Coccidian Genus Cyclospora". Archived from the original on 21 June 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Slapeta J, Morin-Adeline V (2011). "Coccidia, Leuckart 1897". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  4. ^ a b Morrison DA, Bornstein S, Thebo P, Wernery U, Kinne J, Mattsson JG (2004). "The current status of the small subunit rRNA phylogeny of the coccidia (Sporozoa)". International Journal for Parasitology. 34 (4): 501–514. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.11.006. PMID 15013740.
  5. ^ Curry A, Smith HV (1998). "Emerging pathogens: Isospora, Cyclospora, and microsporidia". Parasitology. 117: S143–S159. doi:10.1017/S0031182099004904.


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