''Klossiella'' is a genus of parasitic alveolates of 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 ...

. Species in this genus infect the renal tract of

mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...

s and intestinal tract of

snake Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...

s. The

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

is ''Klossiella muris''.

History

The first member of this genus was identified by Smith in 1889 in the kidney of a white mouse. An expanded study of this parasite was later published by Smith and Johnson in 1902 where they suggested the name ''Klossiella muris''.Smith T & Johnson HP (1902) On a coccidium (Klossiella muris, gen. et spec. nov.) parasitic in the renal epithelium of the mouse. J Exp Med; 6(3): 303–316

Taxonomy

Currently there are 17 species recognised in this genus. All except one (''Klossiella boae'') infect the renal tracts of mammals.

Description

This genus is unusual in having only a single host in its life cycle. The parasite is ingested and within the gut sporozoites escape from the sporocyst and invade the blood stream. Upon reaching the kidney, within the epithelium of the kidney the sporozoite undergoes

merogony 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 organism ...

followed by gametogony and sporogony. It produces polysporocystic oocysts without a resistant oocyst wall. The resistant sporocysts are then shed in the

urine Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and many other animals. In placental mammals, urine flows from the Kidney (vertebrates), kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder and exits the urethra through the penile meatus (mal ...

. The oocysts are subspherical, smooth and measure 22-24 μm by 20-21 μm.

Clinical

''K. boae'' occurs both in the intestine and the kidney of the boa constrictor.Zwart P (1964) Intraepithelial protozoon, ''Klossiella boae'' n. sp. in the kidneys of a ''Boa constrictor''. J Euk Microbiol 11 (2) 261–263 It may cause anorexia, restlessness, hemorrhagic enteritis and intussusception.

Host records

*''K. bettongiae'' - Tasmanian bettong ('' Bettongia gaimardi'') *''K. beveridgei'' - spectacled hare-wallaby ('' Lagorchestes conspicillatus'') *''K. boae'' - boa constrictor (''

Boa constrictor The boa constrictor (scientific name also ''Boa constrictor''), also known as the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the Family (b ...

'') *''K. callitris'' - western grey kangaroo ('' Macropus fuliginosus'') *''K. cobayae'' - guinea pig (''

Cavia porcellus The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (''Cavia porcellus''), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy ( ), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus ''Cavia'', family Caviidae. Animal fancy, Breeders tend to use the name "cavy" for the ani ...

'') *''K. dulcis n.sp.'' - sugar glider ('' Petaurus breviceps'') *''K. equi'' - horse (''

Equus ferus caballus The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a Domestication, domesticated, odd-toed ungulate, one-toed, ungulate, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two Extant taxon, extant subspecies of wild horse, ''Equus ...

'') *''K. hydromyos'' - Australian water rat ('' Hydromys chrysogaster'') *''K. mabokensis'' - African murid ('' Praomys jsoni'') *''K. muris'' - mouse (''

Mus musculus The house mouse (''Mus musculus'') is a small mammal of the rodent family Muridae, characteristically having a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a long and almost hairless tail. It is one of the most abundant species of the genus ''Mus (genu ...

'') *'' K. quimrensis'' - western barred bandicoot ('' Perameles bougainville'') *''K. rufi'' - red kangaroo ('' Macropus rufus'') *''K. rufogrisei'' - Bennett's wallaby ('' Macropus rufogriseus'') *''K. schoinobatis'' - petaurid greater glider ('' Petauroides volans'') *''K. serendipensis'' - swamp wallaby ('' Wallabia bicolor'') *''K. tejerai'' - opossum ('' Didelphis marsupialis'') *''K. thylogale'' - Tasmanian pademelon ('' Thylogale billardierii'')

Note

This genus has also been found in the kidneys of bats but the species was not identified.Kusewitt DF, Wagner JE, Harris PD (1977) ''Klossiella'' sp. in the kidneys of two bats (''Myotis sodalis''). Vet Parasitol 3 (4), 365-369

References

Apicomplexa genera Veterinary protozoology {{Apicomplexa-stub