Nodular and epicellular coccidiosis in the intestine of cyprinid fishes

In the intestine of 10 (n = 18) cyprinid fish species collected from natural waters of Hungary, the author demonstrated oocysts which were shed unsporulated In tapwater, oocysts sporulated within 24 to 48 h In 6 of the fish species, oocysts of 2 sizes were observed Histological examnations proved that, of the morphologically similar oocysts larger ones developed in nodules in size of a pinhead in certain segments of the gut Smaller oocysts were formed in the epicellular layer of epithel~al cells and were distributed evently in the intestine Both nodular and epicellular type coccidioses are characterized by a l -yr developmental cycle Infection is demonstrable only in the spring Merogonic stages were found in March and gamogonic stages In Aprll By May the infection practically disappeared Oocysts collected from different fish speclrs varied sllghtly in morphology Therefore, w~ thou t knowing host specificity, only the nodular and epicrllular coccidia found in the most intensively infected fish species Bl~cca bloerkna are descr~bed as new species, Gouss~a balatonlca and Gouss~a pannon~ca