The key difference between Eimeria and Isospora is that Emeria is a genus of apicomplexan parasite that causes coccidiosis in livestock and wild animals, while Isospora is a genus of apicomplexan parasite that causes coccidiosis in humans, dogs, and cats.
Emeria and Isopora are two genera of apicomplexan parasites that cause the disease coccidiosis in various animals. The species of both Eimeria and Isospora genera are highly host-specific. The species of Isospora may use a paratenic host in their life cycle, whereas the species of Eimeria do not use a paratenic host in their life cycle.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Eimeria
3. What is Isospora
4. Similarities – Eimeria and Isospora
5. Eimeria vs. Isospora in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Eimeria vs. Isospora
What is Eimeria?
Eimeria is a genus of parasitic protozoans. The species of this genus are spore-producing and belong to the phylum Apicomplexa. Eimeria species cause coccidiosis in livestock and wild animals. These species mainly infect the cells of the digestive tract, although they can also attack the liver and the bile duct cells. The species of this genus can produce typical symptoms in affected animals, such as diarrhea, weight loss, and general weakness. The common pathogenic species of this genus are E. necatrix and E. tenella (infect poultry), E. stiedae (infects rabbits), E. bovis, E. ellipsoidalis, and E. zuernii (infect cattle).
Figure 01: Eimeria
The infection caused by Eimeria species can be diagnosed through history, clinical signs, and fecal flotation to detect oocysts in combination with characteristic necropsy findings. Furthermore, treatment options for the infection caused by Eimeria species are supportive therapy (stress reduction) and anticoccidial therapy, such as sulfaquinoxaline, in drinking water to ward off secondary infections.
What is Isospora?
Isospora is a genus of parasitic protozoans that belong to the sporozoan subclass Coccidia. Isospora species usually cause coccidiosis in humans, dogs, and cats. The species that specifically attack humans are I. hominis and I. Belli. These species attack the digestive tract and are usually endemic and distributed in areas of southern Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania in the world. The symptoms in humans after the infection by Isospora species are weight loss, digestive disturbances, and fever. Dogs and cats are infected by the Isospora species of I. bigemina, I. rivolta, and I. felis. Isospora species produce symptoms such as loose bowel movement, severe, malodorous diarrhea, or bloody diarrhoea in dogs and cats.
Figure 02: Isospora
Diagnosis of the infection caused by Isospora species is through detecting characteristic oocysts in stool or intestinal biopsy specimens. Furthermore, treating the infection caused by Isospora species may include administrating trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
What are the Similarities Between Eimeria and Isospora?
- Emeria and Isopora are two genera of apicomplexan parasites that cause coccidiosis in various animals.
- Both genera belong to the family
- The species of both genera are highly host-specific.
- The infections by species of these genera may cause similar symptoms such as diarrhoea, weight loss, etc.
- The infections by species of these genera may be diagnosed by examining stool specimens for oocysts.
- The infections by species of these genera may be treated through antiparasitic drugs.
What is the Difference Between Eimeria and Isospora?
Emeria species cause coccidiosis in livestock and wild animals, while Isospora species cause coccidiosis in humans, dogs, and cats. Thus, this is the key difference between Eimeria and Isospora. Furthermore, the species of Eimeria genus does not use a paratenic host in their life cycle, while the species of Isospora uses a paratenic host in their life cycle.
The infographic below presents the differences between Eimeria and Isospora in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Eimeria vs. Isospora
Eimeria and Isospora are two genera of pathogenic parasites that cause coccidiosis in animals. They belong to the phylum Apicomplexa and the family Eimerridae. Eimeria species cause coccidiosis in livestock and wild animals, while Isospora species cause coccidiosis in humans, dogs, and cats. Moreover, the species of the Eimeria genus does not use a paratenic host in their life cycle, whereas the species of Isospora uses a paratenic host in their life cycle. So, this summarizes the difference between Eimeria and Isospora.
Reference:
1. “Eimeria – An Overview.” ScienceDirect.
2. “Isospora.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Eimeria life cycle” By USDA – USDA ARS, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Isospora belli 2” By UFRGS – (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia