[Toxoplasmids, their life cycle and systematic position].

Recent evidence on the life cycles of the toxoplasmids (Toxoplasma, Besnoitia, Sarcocystis, Hammondia, Frenkelia) has been analysed. The availability of the complex life cycles, including the alternation of sexual and asexual reproduction, in addition to gametogenesis involving the independent development of gametes that produce unequal numbers of gametes, makes it possible to include the toxoplasmids into the family Eimeriidae within the order Coccidiida. A detailed evidence recently provided for Isospora has suggested a kinship of this typical coccidian genus with toxoplasmids. At the same time much similarity is obvious between Isospora and Eimeria in the general pattern of their life cycles. Hence, the family Eimeriidae is suggested to be divided into two subfamilies: Eimeriinae Wenyon, 1926 with Eimeria as the type genus and Isosporinae Wenyon, 1926 with Isospora, Toxoplasma, Besnoitia, Sarcocystis, Frenkelia and Hammondia. The main features of the former subfamily are: various oocyst structures, the lack of the extra-intestinal development, obligatory monoxeny. The main characters of the latter subfamily: oocysts of the same pattern, the involvement of extra-intestinal development, shifts from facultative to obligatory heteroxeny.