''Siedleckia'' are a genus of
parasitic alveolates in the
phylum
In biology, a phylum (; plural: phyla) is a level of classification or taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class. Traditionally, in botany the term division has been used instead of phylum, although the International Code of Nomenclature f ...
Apicomplexa. Species in this genus infect marine invertebrates.
Taxonomy
This genus was described by Caullery and Mesnil in 1898.
There are four species recognised in this genus.
The type species is ''Siedleckia nematoides''.
The taxonomic position of this genus is unclear and it may be related to the gregarines or to the coccidians.
[Diakin A, Simdyanov TG, Paskerova G, Alesohin VV, Entzeroth R, Schrevel J, Valigurova A (2012) Phylogenetic study on early emerging apicomplexans with emphasis on genera ''Eleutheroschizon'' and ''Siedleckia''. In: X. české a slovenské parazitologické dny. ]
Description
The gamonts are elongated and flattened. They possess a smooth surface lacking any grooves or folds.
The
pellicle appears to be trilaminar and longitudinal
microtubule
Microtubules are polymers of tubulin that form part of the cytoskeleton and provide structure and shape to eukaryotic cells. Microtubules can be as long as 50 micrometres, as wide as 23 to 27 nm and have an inner diameter between 11 an ...
s lie deep to it. The parasite attaches to the host cell via
mucron A ''mucron'' is an attachment organelle found in archigregarines - an order of epicellular parasitic Conoidasida.Simdyanov TG, Guillou L, Diakin AY, Mikhailov KV, Schrével J, Aleoshin VV. (2017) A new view on the morphology and phylogeny of eugreg ...
.
Feeding mode is apparently by
myzocytosis.
Life cycle
The parasite infects the gastrointestinal tract and is presumably transmitted by the orofaecal route but the details of this mechanism are presently unknown.
Species in this genus infect the polychete worm ''
Scoloplos armiger''.
References
Apicomplexa genera
{{Apicomplexa-stub