Toxoplasma gondii – Sporulated oocyst (wet mount X 400)

France, Villena Isabelle

In the feline definitive host, oocysts are the final stage of T. gondii life cycle. They are not sporulated when they are passed in feces (see picture P243). In the environment, they mature within a few days, and contain 2 sporocysts (visible on this pic). Each sporocyst will give rise to 4 sporozoites.