Editing Coccidia (section)

{{Short description|Subclass of protists}}
{{Hatnote|Do not confuse Coccidia (a subclass of protists) with [[Coccidioides]] (a genus of fungi), [[coccidiosis]] with [[coccidioidomycosis]], nor superfamily [[scale insect|''Coccoidea'' (scale insect)]].}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Coccidia.JPG
| image_alt = Coccidia oocysts in a fecal flotation from a cat. The cat was underweight and had diarrhea, showing signs of coccidiosis.
| image_caption = Coccidia [[oocyst]]s in a [[fecal flotation]] from a [[cat]]. The cat was underweight and had [[diarrhea]], showing signs of [[coccidiosis]].
| taxon = Coccidia
| authority = Leuckart, 1879
| synonyms = * Coccidiasina
| synonyms_ref = 
| subdivision_ranks = Orders
| subdivision = *[[Agamococcidiorida]]
*[[Eucoccidiorida]]
*[[Ixorheorida]]
*[[Protococcidiorida]]
}}

'''Coccidia''' ('''Coccidiasina''') are a [[Class (biology)|subclass]] of microscopic, [[spore]]-forming, single-celled [[obligate intracellular parasite]]s belonging to the [[apicomplexa]]n class [[Conoidasida]].<ref name=UTS>{{cite web | vauthors =  Brands SJ | title = The Taxonomicon & Systema Naturae | website = Taxon: Genus Cryptosporidium | publisher = Universal Taxonomic Services | location = Amsterdam, the Netherlands | year = 2000 | url = http://www.taxonomy.nl/taxonomicon/TaxonTree.aspx?id=660 | format = Website database }}</ref> 
As obligate intracellular parasites, they must live and reproduce within an [[animal]] cell. Coccidian parasites infect the intestinal tracts of animals,<ref name=iziko>{{cite web
|url=http://www.museums.org.za/bio/apicomplexa/index.htm
|title=Biodiversity explorer: Apicomplexa (apicomplexans, sporozoans)
|publisher=Iziko Museums of Cape Town
|access-date=2006-10-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923004843/http://www.museums.org.za/bio/apicomplexa/index.htm
|archive-date=2006-09-23
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> and are the largest group of apicomplexan protozoa.

Infection with these parasites is known as [[coccidiosis]]. Coccidia can infect all mammals, some birds, some fish, some reptiles, and some amphibians. Most species of coccidia are species-specific in their host. An exception is ''[[Toxoplasma gondii]]'', which can infect all mammals, although it can only undergo sexual reproduction in cats. Depending on the species of coccidia, infection can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and nervous system effects and changes to behavior, and may lead to death. Healthy adults may recover without medication—but those who are immunocompromised or young almost certainly require medication to prevent death. Humans generally become infected by eating under-cooked meat, but can contract infection with ''T. gondii'' by poor hygiene when handling cat waste.