The effects of selected gases on excystation of coccidian oocysts.

The mechanism of CO2 action in changing coccidian oocyst wall permeability was indirectly studied by substituting NO, NO2, N2O, H2S, SO2, CH4, NH3, and 8M urea in place of CO2 in an established excystation procedure. Changes in oocyst wall permeability of Eimeria stiedai, E. bovis, and E. tenella were determined by incubation in test gases and cysteine HCl followed by attempted activation of sporozoites by trypsin and bile and staining of intraoocyst components with methylene blue. The gases CH4, NO2, and N2O were negative for all 3 tests, as were SO2, NH3, and 8M urea which, in addition, were toxic to the oocysts. Both H2S and NO were capable of mimicking the action of CO2 and are related chemically to the reducing agent, and thus tend to underscore its importance in excystation. It now appears that the role of CO2 is that of an allosteric effector enhancing the action of the reducing agent.