Ultrastructure of cryptosporidial life cycle in chicken host cells

Ultrastructural studies were conducted on cryptosporidia in various stages of the life cycle, attached to the epithelial cell surface of the bursa of Fabricius, caecum and trachea in six 5 and 6-week-old chickens fed faeces containing cryptosporidial oocysts. The stages observed were sporozoites or merozoites penetrating the host cells, trophozoites, schizonts, macrogametocytes, microgametocytes and oocysts. The cryptosporidia in the chickens were morphologically and developmentally similar to those reported previously in other animals and humans. All the life cycle stages were recognised in each organ examined and sporulating oocysts were found adherent to the host cells. Trophozoites, schizonts and macrogametocytes were common in each organ examined, while oocysts were found only occasionally and microgametocytes and sporozoites or merozoites were uncommon.