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Fig. 2 | Malaria Journal

Fig. 2

From: Increase of avian Plasmodium circumflexum prevalence, but not of other malaria parasites and related haemosporidians in northern Europe during the past 40 years

Fig. 2

Gametocytes (a, b, d, e, g, m–r) and erythrocytic meronts (c, f, h–l) found in the blood films: Plasmodium circumflexum from Eurasian wren Troglodytes troglodytes (a–c), Plasmodium matutinum from European robin Erithacus rubecula (d–f), Plasmodium relictum (g–i) and Plasmodium (Novyella) sp. (j–l) from Coal tit Periparus ater, Haemoproteus homopicae from Eurasian jay Garrulus glandarius (m), Haemoproteus majoris from Great tit Parus major (n), Haemoproteus attenuatus from European robin (o). Unidentified to species Leucocytozoon parasites were seen in European robin (p), Eurasian jay (q) and Great tit (r). Note the circumnuclear shape of gametocytes and erythrocytic meronts in P. circumflexum (a–c); the presence of distinct vacuoles in gametocyte (d) and meront (f) of P. matutinum; the roundish shape of meront (h, i) of P. relictum, which markedly displace host cell nuclei; the tiny size of mature P. (Novyella) meronts (j–l); the marked vacuolization of the cytoplasm in gametocyte of H. homopicae (m); the broadly halteridial shape of mature H. majoris gametocyte (n); the attenuated shape of mature H. attenuatus gametocyte (o); the variously shaped host cell nuclei in Leucocytozoon parasites (p–r) infecting European robin (p), Eurasian jay (q) and Great tit (r). All images were from blood films of Group 2 birds. Long simple arrows—parasite nuclei, short simple arrows—vacuoles, simple arrowheads—merozoites, triangle arrowheads—host cell nuclei. Scale bar = 10 µm for all images

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