Progress in Taxonomy of the Apicomplexan Protozoa

In 1987, 4516 species and 339 genera of the phylum Apicomplexa had been named. They consisted of the gregarines (subclass Gregarinasida) (1624 named species and 231 named genera), the hemogregarines (family Haemogregarinidae) (399 species and 4 genera), the eimeriorins (order Eimeriorida) (1771 species and 43 genera), the hemospororids (order Haemospororida) (444 species and 9 genera), the piroplasmids (order Piroplasmorida) (173 species and 20 genera), and a few others (105 species and 32 genera). The first apicomplexan protozoon was seen by Antony van Leeuwenhoek; in 1674 he saw oocysts of Eimeria stiedai in the gall bladder of a rabbit. The first member of the phylum to be named (by Dufour in 1828) was Gregarina ovata in earwigs. During the quarter century 1826–1850, 41 species and 6 genera of Apicomplexa were named. These numbers increased progressively. In the quarter century 1951–1975, 1873 new species and 83 new genera were named. Data are given for the numbers of named species and genera of apicomplexan protozoa of each group known in 1850, 1875, 1900, 1925, 1950, 1975, and 1987.     

The Structure of Calf Liver Cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis><Subscript>5</Subscript> at 2.8 Å Resolution

CYTOCHROME b₅ is a haem-containing protein in the microsomes of liver tissue. It interacts specifically with a flavo-protein, cytochrome b₅ reductase, which catalyses the transfer of electrons from NADH to the haem iron of the cytochrome¹. The microsomal cytochrome b₅ system has been implicated in fatty acid desaturation reactions² and a similar system in erythrocytes may catalyse the reduction of methaemoglobin³. Calf liver cytochrome b₅, solubilized by pancreatic lipase, has a molecular weight of 11,000 and consists of ninety-three amino-acids in the sequence shown in Fig. 1 (refs. 4 and 5). The haem group is non-covalently bound to the protein and can be removed reversibly by acid acetone treatment⁶.     

The Sporulated Oocysts of Eimeria illinoisensis n. sp. and of Other Species of Eimeria of the Ox

SYNOPSIS. The sporulated oocysts of 12 species of Eimeria occurring in the ox Bos taurus in the United States are described and differentiated. They are E. alabamensis, E. auburnensis, E. bovis, E. brasiliensis, E. bukidnonensis, E. canadensis, E. cylindrica, E. ellipsoidalis, E. illinoisensis n. sp., E. subspherica, E. wyomingensis and E. zuernii. Two other species, not yet found in North America, which are recognized as valid are E. pellita and E. thianethi. The sporulated oocysts of E. illinoisensis n. sp. are ellipsoidal or slightly ovoid, 24–29 by 19–22 μ with a mean of 26.3 by 20.7 μ; their sporocysts are 13–16 by 6–7 μ with a mean of 15.3 by 6.5 μ. This species was found in 3 cattle from one farm in Illinois.     

Eimeria beldingii n. sp. and Other Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of the Ground Squirrel Spermophilus beldingi1

Fecal samples of 36 ground squirrels, Spermophilus beldingi, from Tioga Pass (elev. ca. 3315 m) in the Sierra Nevada, California, yielded oocysts of Eimeria beckeri in nine squirrels, E. citelli in four squirrels, E. beldingii n. sp. in two squirrels, and degenerated, unidentifiable oocysts in ten squirrels. Eimeria beldingii n. sp. oocysts are ellipsoidal, 30–34 × 24–30 (mean 32 × 26) μm with a two-layered, rough, striated wall, without a micropyle or residuum, with polar granules; they contain ellipsoidal or ovoid sporocysts 11–15 × 9–12 (mean 13 × 10) μm with a Stieda body and residuum.