Piroplasmida

Order of parasites in phylum Apicomplexa, vertebrate hosts, tick and leech vectors Piroplasmida Babesia sp. Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota Clade: Sar Clade: Alveolata Phylum: Apicomplexa Class: Aconoidasida Order: Piroplasmida Families and genera incertae sedis Anthemosoma Babesia microti Babesiidae Babesia Echinozoon Entopolypoides Dactylosomatidae Dactylosoma Haemohormidium Theileriidae Haematoxenus Sauroplasma Theileria Piroplasmida phylogeny (mtDNA) Piroplasmida Babesia s.s. Theileriidae Theileria s.s. Cytauxzoon Theileria equi Babesia conradae Babesia microti Piroplasmida is an order of parasites in the phylum Apicomplexa. They divide by binary fission and as sporozoan parasites they possess sexual and asexual phases (sexual reproduction occurs in the tick gut). They include the tick parasites Babesia and Theileria. Description They are minute rounded or pyriform parasites found within erythrocytes, or other circulating or endothelial cells of vertebrates, where they reproduce by merogony. The trophozoite stage is separated from erythrocyte by a single membrane.[citation needed] This distinguishes them from other blood parasites that usually have at least two memb