A study of the life cycle of Eimeria praecox, Johnson 1930

The life cycle of a strain of Eimeria praecox derived from a single oocyst which was obtained from litter removed from a broiler farm in West-Germany was examined. Four generations of schizonts were observed, maturing at 24 hpi, 40 hpi, 56 hpi and 68 hpi, respectively. Mature gamonts were seen at 80 hpi to 84 hpi, and oocysts were detected in the faeces at less than 84 hours postinfection in two of the five propagations of the strain. Results are compared with previous descriptions of the life cycle of E. praecox.