Fig. 3

Morphological features of erythrocytic meronts and their host cells of avian Plasmodium parasites, which are used for Novyella and Giovannolaia species identification. Trophozoites (a–d) and erythrocytic meronts (e–y) on different stages of maturation. Note presence of large vacuoles (a, e, m), refractive small globules (f, h–j), bluish non-refractive globules (b, k, l), fan-like mature meronts (o, v), strictly nucleopilic position (n, t), the scanty (nearly invisible) cytoplasm (a, b, e–l) and the prominent (readily visible) cytoplasm (d, x) in parasites on different stages of their development. Triangle wide long arrows—refractive globules. Triangle wide short arrows—bluish (non-refractive) globules. Other symbols are as in Fig. 1. Explanations are given in the text