Ultrastructure of the oocyst wall formation in Eimeria? beauchampi Leger and Duboscq, 1917, a coccidian parasite of Glossobalanus minutus (Kow.) (Enteropneusta, Hemichordata).

The ultrastructure of the developing oocyst of Eimeria? beauchampi Leger and Duboscq, 1917 was studied from the ventral digestive epithelium of the hepatic region of Glossobalanus minutus (Enteropneusta). A possible building mechanism of the oocyst wall is deduced and discussed from the present data and the available literature. During oocyst wall formation a total of 5 membranes were observed at or near the surface of the parasite among which some wall-forming materials will be stored. The origin and fate of such wall-forming materials are discussed and compared with data from other coccidians. The apparently full-formed wall is made up of an outer, dense layer, a median layer showing a labyrinthic-tubular lattice substructure, and an inner, homogeneous and osmiophilic layer. A micropyle measuring 0.35 micron in diameter is also described.