Some observations on the sexual differentiation of Eimeria tenella using single sporozoite infections in chicken embryos

Abstract

Unsporulated oocysts were recovered from the allantoic cavity of 5 chicken embryos inoculated with a single sporozoite of Eimeria tenella; some of these oocysts sporulated. Both macrogametes and microgametes are required for the formation of viable oocysts. The results conclusively demonstrate the bisexual nature of the sporozoite, suggest that sexual differentiation is influenced by environmental factors, and show that true clones of Eimeria can be established from individual sporozoites.