Schizocystidae

Schizocystidae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
(unranked):	Sar
(unranked):	Alveolata
Phylum:	Apicomplexa
Class:	Conoidasida
Subclass:	Gregarinasina
Order:	Neogregarinorida
Family:	Schizocystidae
Genera
Lymphotropha Machadoella Schizocystis

TheSchizocystidaeare a family ofparasiticalveolates in thephylumApicomplexa.Species in this family infect insects (Diptera,ColeopteraandHemiptera).

History

This family was created by Léger and Duboscq in 1908.

Taxonomy

Three genera are currently recognised in this family.

The type genus isSchizocystis.

Lifecycle

The parasites develop in extracellular locations. The trophozoites are large, band like and wide. They have longitudinal striae and are aseptate. Amucronof small pseudopods or sucker is present. The nuclei are large.

Merogony occurs once in the lifecycle. Nuclear division proceeds with binary fission during growth.Cytokinesisoccurs to formuninucleatemerozoitesarranged in clusters in the shape of thetrophozoite.The merozoites become free by dropping off the parent trophozoite.

Gamonts,gametocystsandoocystsare of the actinocephalid type with syzygy occurring just before gametocyst formation.

The young gamonts are vermiform (wormlike). The gametocysts are mostly spherical. The oocysts are spindle-shaped with eightsporozoites.