''Isospora'' is a genus of internal
parasite
Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...
s in the subclass
Coccidia
Coccidia (Coccidiasina) are a subclass of microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled obligate intracellular parasites belonging to the apicomplexan class Conoidasida.
As obligate intracellular parasites, they must live and reproduce within an a ...
.
[ ][ ]
It is responsible for the condition
isosporiasis
Isosporiasis, also known as cystoisosporiasis, is a human intestinal disease caused by the parasite ''Cystoisospora belli'' (previously known as ''Isospora belli''). It is found worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Infection of ...
, which causes acute, non-bloody diarrhoea in immunocompromised individuals.
Taxonomy
At least 248 species were originally described in this genus. For instance, the
house sparrow
The house sparrow (''Passer domesticus'') is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of and a mass of . Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, a ...
has 12 species of ''Isospora''.
However, most species are little studied, and some authors doubt whether all should be recognized as distinct species.
In 2005, all former ''Isospora'' species that infect mammalian hosts were reclassified as members of the genus ''
Cystoisospora
''Cystoisospora'' is a genus of parasitic alveolates belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa.
Taxonomy
This genus was originally created by J. K. Frenkel in 1977. Its use was discontinued but was resurrected in 2005. This genus currently includes sp ...
'', a member of the
Sarcocystidae
The Sarcocystidae are a family of Apicomplexa associated with a variety of diseases in humans and other animals.
Taxonomy
Genera in this family include:
* '' Besnoitia''
* ''Cystoisospora''
* ''Frenkelia''
* ''Nephroisospora''
* '' Neospora''
...
family.
References
External links
*
Apicomplexa genera
Conoidasida
{{Apicomplexa-stub