[Comparative review of the developmental biology of the genera Sarcocystis, Frenkelia, Isospora, Cystoisospora, Hammondia, Toxoplasma and Besnoitia (author's transl)].

A review is given of the advances in our knowledge of the developmental biology of the so-called cyst-forming coccidia in the years from 1974 to 1978. Until 1970 only 6 Isospora species were known to occur in cats, dogs and men. After the discovery of the coccidian nature of the genera Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis, Besnoitia and Frenkelia, and after the discovery of the new genus Hammondia the number of known species rose to over 30. In addition it could be shown that also birds of prey, owls and reptiles serve as final hosts for several Sarcocystis and Frenkelia species. The coccidia with isosporoid oocysts can be classified into two major groups: Species with gamogony and sporogony in the final host (Sarcocystis, Frenkelia) and species with schizogony and gamogony in the final host and sporogony on the ground (Isospora, Cystoisospora, Hammondia, Toxoplasma, Besnoitia). The subdivision of the first group into the genera Sarcocystis and Frenkelia based on the localization of their cysts in the musculature and in the brain, respectively, cannot be upheld in the future. Their classification into organisms with small cystozoites of about 7 microm with birds or reptiles as final hosts (Sarcocystis and Frenkelia species of rodents) and those with large cystozoites of about 15 microm and mammals as final hosts (Sarcocystis spp. of domestic animals and rodents) would be more significative. The second group can be subdivided into monoxenous species (Isospora), species with an optional intermediate host in which no or only slight multiplication occurs (Cystoisospora) and in genera with a multiplication in two phases in the intermediate host (Hammondia, Toxoplasma, Besnoitia). The nomenclature of single species is very controversial. As an example the controversial apprehension of the taxonomy of the Sarcocystis species of cattle is discussed. An application has been submitted to the International Commission for the Zoological Nomenclature to delcare a number of names as nomina dubia and to introduce unambiguous names for those organisms for which type specimens are available.