oocyst

A thick-walled structure in which sporozoan zygotes develop and that serves to transfer them to new hosts.

A thick-walled structure in which sporozoan zygotes develop and that serves to transfer them to new hosts.

The resistant stage of the life cycle of coccidial parasites. It contains a zygote and under appropriate conditions sporulates to become a mature infective oocyst. It may also remain infective for long periods in dry conditions.

• o. patches — see oocyst plaques.
• o. plaques — raised patches up to 0.5 inch diameter in small intestinal epithelium in goats and sheep caused by heavy infestation by coccidial oocysts.

An oocyst is the thick-walled spore phase of certain protists (sporozoans), such as Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma. This state can survive for lengthy periods outside a host and is very resistant.

The zygote developes inside, and it serves to transfer them to new hosts; for example via mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae).

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Oocysts in cat feces are transferred to cat's litter boxes. Pregnant women should avoid handling cat litter boxes since the oocysts can cause eye, brain and other damage to the developing fetus.

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