Fig. 4

Morphological features of gametocytes and their host cells of avian Plasmodium parasites, which are used for species identification. Macrogametocytes (a–g, k–u, w–y) and microgametocytes (h–j, v). Note long outgrowth (f), terminal position of pigment granules (e) and nucleus (g), granular (l, m) and vacuolated (n) appearance of the cytoplasm, slender (p–r) and circumnuclear (s) shapes of gametocytes, clumps of pigment granules located near the parasite margin (t, w), distinct smooth outline of nucleus (y). Symbols as in Figs. 1, 2, 3. Explanations are given in the text