The Life Cycle of Eimeria vermiformis Ernst, Chobotar and Hammond, 1971 in the Mouse Mus musculus1

SYNOPSIS. The life cycle of Eimeria vermiformis from the mouse Mus musculus is described from experimental infections. The prepatent period was 7 days, and the patent period 7–22+ days. Endogenous stages were in the lower 2/3 of the small intestine. Two generations of schizonts were found. Mature 1st generation schizonts, seen 4 days after inoculation, were 16–25 × 9–16 μ and had long vermiform merozoites. Mature 2nd generation schizonts were first seen 5 days after inoculation. They were 8–18 × 7–14 μ (mean 11.2 × 13.1 μ). Mature microgametocytes, 17–32 × 12–25 μ, were present 6 days after inoculation. Macrogametes with plastic granules were found at the same time. The life cycle of E. vermiformis is compared with those of other species of Eimeria from Mus.