AUTHOR=López-Osorio Sara , Chaparro-Gutiérrez Jenny J. , Gómez-Osorio Luis M. 

TITLE=Overview of Poultry Eimeria Life Cycle and Host-Parasite Interactions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00384

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2020.00384

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Apicomplexan parasites of the genus <italic>Eimeria</italic> are organisms which invade the intestinal tract, causing coccidiosis, an enteric disease of major economic importance worldwide. The disease causes high morbidity ranging from an acute, bloody enteritis with high mortality, to subclinical disease. However, the presence of intestinal lesions depends on the <italic>Eimeria</italic> species. The most important poultry <italic>Eimeria</italic> species are: <italic>E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. brunetti, E. mitis</italic>, and <italic>E. praecox</italic>. Key points to better understanding the behavior of this species are the host-parasite interactions and its life cycle. The present paper reviews the literature available regarding the life cycle and the initial host-parasite interaction. More studies are needed to better understand these interactions in poultry <italic>Eimerias</italic>, taking into account that almost all the information available was generated from other apicomplexan parasites that generate human disease.</p>