Fig. 10

Morphological features of gametocytes, which are used for identification of Haemoproteus species parasitizing Charadriiformes birds. Macrogametocytes (a–f, h, j–m, o, p) and microgametocytes (g, i, n) of Haemoproteus rotator (a–c), H. scolopaci (d, e), H. jenniae (f, g), H. larae (h, i), H. abdusalomovi (j), H. burhini (k), H. skuae (l–n), H. contortus (o, p). Note that fully grown gametocytes of H. rotator markedly rotate the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (a–c). Nucleolus is readily visible in nuclei of H. scolopaci macrogametocytes (d, e). Fully grown gametocytes of H. jenniae contain predominantly roundish or slightly oval and of approximately uniform size and form pigment granules (f, g), which are different from the predominantly elongate rod-like pigment granules in gametocytes of H. larae (h, i). More or less evident unfilled spaces are present between circumnuclear macrogametocytes and nuclei of infected erythrocytes in H. skuae (m) and H. contortus (p). Images a, c, l–n, o are from the type material, which is fading, resulting in pale staining and poorly recognizable pigment granules and nuclei, however the overall form of the gametocytes is readily visible. Long simple arrows—host cell nuclei. Short simple arrows—parasite nuclei. Simple arrowheads—pigment granules. Simple wide short arrows—vacuoles. Simple wide long arrows—unfilled spaces between gametocytes and nuclei of infected erythrocytes. Other explanations are given in the text