Meroselenidium is a genus of parasitic alveolates in the phylumApicomplexa. Species in this genus infect marine invertebrates.
Taxonomy
This genus was described by Mackinnon and Ray in 1933. There is one species in this genus – Meroselenidium keilini.
Description
The trophozoites live within the gut lumen. They measure 200–300 μm × 40–70 μm. There are 30–40 grooves along the body. Four refringent rods are present in the mucron. A vacuole may also be present in the mucron.
Synergy is caudo-caudal. The gametocysts are 70 μm × 55 μm and give rise to multiple gametes. After fertilization the zygote gives rise to ~20 sporocysts. There is no residual body. The sporocysts are bivalved and give rise to multiple sporozoites.
The species in this genus, Merselenidium keilini, forms transversely striated folds.[1]
The parasite infects the gastrointestinal tract and is presumably transmitted by the orofaecal route but the details of this mechanism are presently unknown.