''Dorisiella'' is a genus of parasitic

alveolates The alveolates (meaning "pitted like a honeycomb") are a group of protists, considered a major unranked clade or superphylum within Eukaryota. They are currently grouped with the Stramenopiles and Rhizaria among the protists with tubulocristat ...

belonging to the

phylum In biology, a phylum (; : phyla) is a level of classification, or taxonomic rank, that is below Kingdom (biology), kingdom and above Class (biology), class. Traditionally, in botany the term division (taxonomy), division has been used instead ...

Apicomplexa The Apicomplexa (also called Apicomplexia; single: apicomplexan) are organisms of a large phylum of mainly parasitic alveolates. Most possess a unique form of organelle structure that comprises a type of non-photosynthetic plastid called an ap ...

. This genus was created in 1930 by Ray.Ray HN (1930) Studies on some sporozoa in polychaete worms. II. ''Dorisiella scolelepidis'', n. gen., n. sp. Parasitology 22: 471-480

Taxonomy

Currently there is only one species recognised in this genus.

Life cycle

This species infects the gastrointestinal tract of

polychaete Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class of generally marine Annelid, annelid worms, common name, commonly called bristle worms or polychaetes (). Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called c ...

worms. It is not known if it has any other host. The parasite infects the cells of the gut wall. The oocysts have thin membrane like walls. Each sporocyst gives rise to 8

sporozoite Apicomplexans, a group of intracellular parasites, have life cycle stages that allow them to survive the wide variety of environments they are exposed to during their complex life cycle. Each stage in the life cycle of an apicomplexan organis ...

Host records

'' Malacoceros fuliginosus''. This worm of the family ''

Spionidae Spionidae is a family of marine worms within the Polychaeta. Spionids are selective deposit feeders that use their two grooved palps to locate prey. However, some spionids are capable of interface feeding, i.e. switching between deposit and sus ...

'' was previously known as ''Scolelepis fuliginosa''. This name is now recognised as a junior synonym.

References

Apicomplexa genera Monotypic eukaryote genera {{Apicomplexa-stub