Aggregata


Aggregata is a genus of parasitic alveolates belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa.

Taxonomy

This genus was originally described by Lieberkühn in 1854. It was given its current name by Frenzel in 1885. This genus had previously been named Benedenia.
This genus appears to be related to the adelinids and Hepatozoon but this needs confirmation.

Life cycle

The life cycle was determined in 1914. These parasites are heteroxenous, with two hosts in their life cycle. Sexual stages are found in the digestive tract of cephalopods and asexual stages infect the digestive tract of crustaceans.
The parasites undergo merogony and gametogony in the digestive tract and sometimes in the other tissues of the cephalopod. The oocysts may be passed in the stool or form within the tissues of the cephalopod. When the oocysts are ingested by a crustacean - frequently a crab - they decyst and infect the digestive tract of the crustacean. The life cycle is completed when the crustacean is eaten by a cephalopod.

Host records