Life cycle of Eimeria christenseni Levine, Ivens & Fritz, 1962 form the domestic goat, Capra hircus L.

The endogenous development of Eimeria christenseni was studied in 10 two-to four-week-old kids inoculated with 10(6)-10(7) sporulated oocysts. They were killed at intervals from two to 26 days after inoculation, and their tissues were examined for endogenous stages of the coccidian by light microscopy. Such stages were found in the small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes. In the sexual cycle, two generations of meronts were found. The first generation developed in endothelial cells of lacteals in the jejunum In the sexual cycle, two generations of meronts were found. The first generation developed in endothelial cells of lacteals in the jejunun and ileum and mesenteric lymph nodes, and mature meronts were first seen 14 days after inoculation. The second generation developed in epithelial cells of the glands of Lieberkuehn in the jejunum and ileum and in mesenteric lymph nodes, and its mature meronts were first seen by 16 days. Sexual stages were present mostly in epithelial cells of the tips and sides of the villi and less frequently in crypt cells of the jejunum and ileum. Mature macrogametes and microgamonts and oocysts were also first seen by 16 days. The prepatent period was 17(14-23) days; the patent ranged from 8 to more than 30 days. Sporulation time was 3-4 days at 30 degrees C. E. christenseni was found to be pathogenic, kids inoculated with 1-5 X 10(5) sporulated oocysts exhibited the following signs: severe diarrhea, anorexia, polydipsia, poor hair coat, and extreme weakness. They recovered about a month later, but their growth rates appeared to be lower than those of uninoculated animals kept under the same conditions. One kid died 20 days after inoculation with 10(7) oocysts.