Endogenous stages of Eimeria tuskegeensis (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in the cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus

Endogenous stages of Eimeria tuskegeensis were studied in experimentally infected cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus. Almost all parasites were located on the basilar side of the nucleus in epithelial cells on the sides and tips of villi of the small intestine. The endogenous cycle consisted of three generations of schizogony followed by gametogony. First-, second-, third-generation schizonts could be distinguished by time of appearance, size and shape of the schizont, and number, size, shape, and arrangement of merozoites. Immature gametogonous stages appeared to 84 hr postinoculation (PI) and developed into mature microgametocytes and macrogametes by 96 hr PI. Microgametocytes had a mono-centric type of development. Intermediate macrogametes had small, basophilic wall-forming bodies and mature macrogametes had large, eosinophilic wall-forming bodies. It was not possible to determine whether these were two distinct types of wall-forming bodies or whether they were different stages of a single type. Two nuclei were seen in the host's epithelial cells parasitized by schizonts, microgematocytes, macrogametes, and oocysts. This binucleate condition was apparently parasite-induced.