Stenophoricae is a superfamily of parasites 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 ...
.
Taxonomy
There are eleven families in this taxon.
History
This superfamily was created by Levine in 1984.
[Levine ND (1984) Nomenclatoral corrections and new taxa in the apicomplexan protozoa. Trans American MicroscSoc 103 :195—204] Its description was emended by Clopton in 2009.
It was previously designated
Solitaricae by Chakravarty in 1960.
Description
Species in this superfamily infect only a single host during their life cycle.
The
trophozoite
A trophozoite (G. ''trope'', nourishment + ''zoon'', animal) is the activated, feeding stage in the life cycle of certain protozoa such as malaria-causing ''Plasmodium falciparum'' and those of the ''Giardia'' group. The complementary form of the t ...
s are solitary and may develop either intracellularly or extracellularly.
The
epimerite varies in its structure between species.
The
gametocysts may or may not have
sporoducts. They have a hyaline epicyst.
Oocysts are released in a variety of ways depending on the species:
* Dehiscence of the gametocyst and release of single oocysts ''en masse''
* Release of oocysts in polyete chains from the gametocyst
* Rupture of a gametocyst valve and release of oocysts in monete chains
* Expulsion of isolated oocysts ''en masse''
Differential diagnosis
This superfamily is distinguished by the
Porosporidae by only having one host in the life cycle.
It is distinguished from the
Gregarinicae by the lack of formation of association between the parasites before gametocyst formation. Members of the Gregarinicae typically form associations before they mature. This occurs some time before the onset of syzygy.
References
Apicomplexa superfamilies
Conoidasida
{{Apicomplexa-stub