The ultrastructural development of the oocyst wall of Eimeria maxima

Abstract

SUMMARYOocyst wall formation in Eimeria maxima was studied during the macrogamete stage in intestinal cells of the chick and in unsporulated oocysts isolated from faeces. The outer of the 2 membranes bounding the mature macrogamete separated from the surface but remained as a veil surrounding the developing oocyst throughout the whole intracellular process. Wall-forming bodies Type I were initially applied to the limiting membrane of the zygote cytoplasm; a layer of material similar to their contents was then formed around the zygote. As this occurred a new double membrane was formed surrounding the oocyst cytoplasm. The outer wall layer was initially homogenous in appearance but later developed into 2 zones, an outer amorphous region and an inner osmiophilic region. The inner layer of the oocyst wall was formed from the contents of the wallforming bodies Type II which dispersed between the outer wall and the limiting membranes of the oocyst cytoplasm. There was evidence of an additional membrane formed external to the outer wall. The outer membranes were not present around the wall of oocysts passed in the faeces of chicks, but the same wall zonation was evident, although the inner osmiophilic zone of the outer wall layer was markedly thinner in comparison with the same zone seen in the tissues.