Phyulm : Apicomplexa

Sub-order: Eimeriina

Family : Sarcocystiidae

Sub-family: Toxoplasmatinae

Genus: Toxoplasms, Basnoitia

General Characteristics of Sub-family Toxoplasmatinae

• Oocyst with two sporocyst, each sporocyst with four sporozoites.
• Parasites are facultatively or obligatory and heteroxenous.
• Definitive host are feline animals.
• Merogony in both intermediate and final host and infection may occur in intermediate and final host.
• Metrocytes are not formed.
• Schizonts and gametocytes are found in enteric cells of felid and sporogony occurs outside of host body.

Toxoplasma

• Genus “Toxoplasma” contains only one species; Toxoplasma gondii.
• Unsporulated oocyst are passed in faeces of cats and other felids.
• Shows complete lack of species specificity in intermediate host and capable of infecting any warm-blooded animal.
• Name “Toxoplasma” ( toxon = arc; plasm = form) is derived from crescent shape of “tachyzoite” stage.