The life cycle of Eimeria dispersa Tyzzer 1929 from the turkey in gallinaceous birds.

The life cycle of a turkey strain of Eimeria dispersa was studied in chickens, Chukar partridge, Ring-necked pheasant, and Bobwhite quail. Endogenous development in partridge and quail differed from development in chickens and pheasant. In partridge and quail, mature 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-generation schizonts, macrogamets, and oocysts were found in tissue sections at an earlier time interval, mature 1st-generation schizonts were larger, and mature 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-generation schizonts contained a greater number of merozoites that were longer. The only apparent similarity among the 4 hosts was the size of mature 2nd- and 3rd-generation schizonts. The life cycle was completed in all 4 species of birds. The prepatent period was approximately 6 hr shorter in partridge and quail than in chickens and pheasant. Two partridge and 2 quail given 50,000 sporulated oocysts each shed a total of 23 million and 135 million oocysts, respectively, during 4-day interval. Two chickens and 2 pheasant given the same dosage shed a total of only 70,000 and 1 million oocysts, respectively, during the same interval. Oocysts from partridge and quail sporulated more quickly and were slightly larger than those from chickens and pheasant.