Genus: Besnoitia
- Species of Besnoitia have been found in cattle, horses, deer, rodents, primates and reptiles.
- Cats are definitive host
- These parasites develop in connective tissues, particularly of skin, causing skin thickening and hair loss.
Besnoitia species
|
Species |
Hosts |
Intermediate hosts |
Site |
|
B. besnoiti (Syn. Sarcocystis besnoiti) |
Cat Wild cat (Lion, cheetah, Leopard) |
Cattle, Goat, wild ruminants (wild beest) |
Skin. Conjunctiva |
|
B. benneti |
Unknown |
Horse, donkey |
Skin. Conjunctiva |
|
B. tarandi |
Unknown |
Reindeer, Caribov |
Skin, Conjunctiva |
Note: Schizogony: Asexual reproduction of protozoans characterized by multiple division of nucleus and cell.
Merogony: Asexual reproduction where parasitic protozoan replicates its own nucleus inside the host cells and induce segmentation.