STRUCTURES OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF CYCLOSPORA CAYETANENSIS (PROTOZOA, COCCIDIA) IN THE FECES OF PATIENTS WITH DIARREIC SYNDROME

Resumen

Although the epidemiology of Cyclospora cayetanensis has been gradually clocumentatcd, its Ufe cycle has not been completaly described. Our studies of patients vvith diarrheic syndrome nave obscrved in the feces not only oocysts, but also schizonts and merozoites of threc generations, characteristic of coccidians. These are released by lisis of the intestinal villi in which the parasite develops. Schizonts of the first generation contain spheroidal merozoites, wether dizoic, tetrazoic, octozoic or polyzoic. The second generation schizonts contain smaller, ovoidal merozoites, and the schizonts of the third generation contain even smaller, falciform merozoites. Sexual forms were also seen: undifferentiated gamonts, macrogametes, mature microgametocytes and zygotes. We submit here also a tentative survey of Cyclosporidiosis in Venezuela, first report by Báez et al., 1993, 1995. Clinical studies were made on different age groups of various communities on both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Ducklings and laboratory rodents were inoculated vvith the parasite and developmenl in their viscera observed. Oocysts were detected in the river waters adjacent to the studied communities, and also in the domestic pigs, dogs and cats.