This is a dissertation on the chronobiological behaviour of the coccidian species Isospora lacazei (an unicellular intestinal parasite in song-birds), found in house sparrows (Passer domesticus), which was examined as an example of a host-parasite-model. It was investigated, weather coccidias have a circadian pacemaker of their own, and if so, by which zeitgebers it can be synchronized. In focus were the circadian rhythm of excretion of isospora-oocysts, dependent on the activity rhythms of the birds under different experimental settings. 1.st As a result of the observed desynchronisation of the coccidian rhythms in spite of the synchronisation of the activity rhythms and 2. the differing time of resynchronisation of activity rhythms and coccidias, the existence of an endogenous clock within the coccidias is probable. Both light-dark-cycles and cycles of food-restriction serve as strong external zeitgebers for coccidias.
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This is a dissertation on the chronobiological behaviour of the coccidian species Isospora lacazei (an unicellular intestinal parasite in song-birds), found in house sparrows (Passer domesticus), which was examined as an example of a host-parasite-model. It was investigated, weather coccidias have a circadian pacemaker of their own, and if so, by which zeitgebers it can be synchronized. In focus were the circadian rhythm of excretion of isospora-oocysts, dependent on the activity rhythms of the...
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