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Table 2 Key to subgenera of Plasmodium parasites of birds

From: Keys to the avian malaria parasites

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Features and subgenus

1 (2)

Exo-erythrocytic merogony takes place in cells of the haemopoietic system. Erythrocytic meronts develop in various immature red blood cells (Fig. 2i, k–p)

…………………………………………… Huffiaa

2 (1)

Exo-erythrocytic merogony does not takes place in cells of the haemopoietic system. Erythrocytic meronts do not develop in early immature red blood cells (Fig. 2i, k–p); mature and nearly mature erythrocytes are the main host cells (Figs. 2a–h, j; 3a–y)

3 (6)

Roundish fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 4t–w) are present

4 (5)

Size of fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 4u–w) and erythrocytic meronts (Fig. 1c) markedly exceed that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes

…………………………………………… Haemamoebab

5 (4)

Size of fully grown gametocytes (Figs. 4a, 5m) and erythrocytic meronts (Fig. 3g, n) does not exceed that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes

…………………………………………… Bennettiniac

6 (3)

Roundish fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 4t–w) are absent. Elongate gametocytes (Fig. 4c–s) predominate

7 (8)

Erythrocytic trophozoites (Fig. 3d) and growing meronts (Fig. 3x) contain plentiful cytoplasm. Size of fully grown erythrocytic meronts, which size markedly exceed that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Figs. 2d, e, 3w, y), are present

…………………………………………… Giovannolaiad

8 (7)

Erythrocytic trophozoites (Fig. 3a, b) and growing meronts (Fig. 3e–o) contain scanty cytoplasm. Size of fully grown erythrocytic meronts does not exceed or only slightly exceeds that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 3p–r)

…………………………………………… Novyellae

  1. Main taxonomic characters of subgenera of avian malaria parasites [8]
  2. aExo-erythrocytic merogony takes place in cells of the haemopoietic system. Erythrocytic trophozoites and growing meronts (Fig. 2l–p) contain plentiful cytoplasm. Erythrocytic meronts develop in various immature red blood cells (Plasmodium huffi probably is an exception, but this needs confirmation). Fully grown erythrocytic meronts and gametocytes are variable both in form and size; elongate, roundish and irregularly shaped parasites might occur. Pedunculated oocysts are absent
  3. bExo-erythrocytic merogony takes place in cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Erythrocytic trophozoites (Fig. 3d) and growing meronts (Fig. 2a, b) contain plentiful cytoplasm. The size of fully grown erythrocytic meronts exceeds that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 1c). Fully grown gametocytes are roundish, oval or of irregular form, and their size exceeds that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 4t–x). Pedunculated oocysts are absent
  4. cExo-erythrocytic merogony takes place in cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Erythrocytic trophozoites and growing meronts contain scanty cytoplasm (Fig. 3g). Growing erythrocytic meronts are nucleophilic. The size of fully grown erythrocytic meronts does not exceed that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 3g, s). Fully grown gametocytes are roundish, oval, of irregular form, sometimes oval-elongated; their size does not exceed that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 5m). Pedunculated oocysts are present. Subgenus Bennettinia contains only one species, Plasmodium juxtanucleare [81]
  5. dExo-erythrocytic merogony takes place in cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Erythrocytic trophozoites (Fig. 3d) and growing meronts (Fig. 3x) contain plentiful cytoplasm. The size of fully grown erythrocytic meronts exceeds that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Figs. 2d, e; 3w, y). Fully grown gametocytes are elongated (Figs. 4c–s; 5i, k, o). Pedunculated oocysts are absent
  6. eExo-erythrocytic merogony takes place in cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Erythrocytic trophozoites (Fig. 3a, b) and growing meronts (Fig. 3e–j) contain scanty cytoplasm. The size of fully grown erythrocytic meronts does not exceed or only slightly exceeds that of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes occasionally (Fig. 3p–r). Fully grown gametocytes are elongated (Fig. 4c–r). Pedunculated oocysts are absent
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Malaria Journal

ISSN: 1475-2875

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