Goussia aculeati
Goussia alburni
Goussia anopli
Goussia arinae
Goussia auratus
Goussia balatonica
Goussia bettae
Goussia biwaensis
Goussia bohemica
Goussia carpelli
Goussia centropomi
Goussia cernui
Goussia chalupskyi
Goussia cichlidarurn
Goussia clupearum
Goussia cultrati
Goussia cruciata
Goussia degiusti
Goussia girellae
Goussia grygieri
Goussia gymnocephali
Goussia flaviviridis
Goussia freemani
Goussia hyalina
Goussia hyperolisi
Goussia iroquoina
Goussia janae
Goussia koertingi
Goussia lacazei
Goussia legeri
Goussia leucisci
Goussia luciopercae
Goussia lusca
Goussia malayensis
Goussia metchnikovi
Goussia minuta
Goussia molnarica
Goussia neglecta
Goussia nipponica
Goussia noelleri
Goussia notemigonica
Goussia notropicum
Goussia pannonica
Goussia peleci
Goussia polylepidis
Goussia pogonognathi
Goussia scardinii
Goussia siliculiformis
Goussia sinensis
Goussia soumbediounensis
Goussia sparis
Goussia spraguei
Goussia stankovitchi
Goussia subepithelialis
Goussia thelohani
Goussia trichogasteri
Goussia vanasi
Goussia vimbae
Goussia wakabayashii
Goussia is a taxonomic genus, first described in 1896 by Labbé, containing parasitic protists which largely target fish and amphibians as their hosts. Members of this genus are homoxenous and often reside in the gastrointestinal tract of the host, however others may be found in organs such as the gallbladder or liver.[1]The genera Goussia, as current phylogenies indicate, is part of the class Conoidasida, which is a subset of the parasitic phylum Apicomplexa; features of this phylum, such as a distinct apical complex containing specialized secretory organelles, an apical polar ring, and a conoid are all present within Goussia, and assist in the mechanical invasion of host tissue.[2] The name Goussia is derived from the French word gousse, meaning pod. This name is based on the bi-valve sporocyst morphology which some Goussians display. Of the original 8 classified Goussians, 6 fit the “pod” morphology.[3] As of this writing, the genera consists of 59 individual species.
Goussians share a similar morphology, with certain characteristics remaining widely conserved throughout the genera. In general goussians have thin walled oocysts lacking a micropyle, which contain four bivalved sporocysts.[1] The two valves composing the sporocyst are identical and have a single longitudinal joint running along the midline. In some specific species there is a dual membrane structure which is associated with the joint. These associated membranes are quite delicate and can be difficult to observe under an electron microscope as the fixation process often leads to damage or the full destruction of this membranous structure.[4] As do many apicomplexans, Goussia feature a conical shaped structure towards the apical end of their cells made of fibers, which are currently unknown, that surround the rhoptries. The conoid is thought to have a mechanical function and assist in the entrance into host cells in order to form a characteristic parasitophorous vacuole.[5]
Rhopteries and micronemes are located below the conoid in the apical end of the cell. These two organelles have a unique secretory function and aid in the adhesion to enterocytes in the gastrointestinal tract. This ensures that Goussia is able to gain substantial access to host cells, before being passed through the host with the feces.[6]