Fig. 13

Morphological features of fully grown (a–g, i, k, l) and young (h, j) gametocytes, which are used for identification of Haemoproteus species parasitizing Columbiformes birds. Macrogametocytes (a, d–k) and microgametocytes (b, c, l) of Haemoproteus columbae (a, b), H. turtur (c, d), H. palumbis (e), H. multivolutinus (f), H. multipigmentatus (g, h), H. paramultipigmentatus (i, j) and H. sacharovi (k, l). Note that big roundish volutin granules present in gametocytes of H. columbae (a, b), and the small pigment granules locate inside these volutin granules but usually are not present free in the cytoplasm (b). Numerous discrete roundish volutin granules present in gametocytes of H. turtur (c, d) and H. palumbis (e), and pigment granules are readily visible in the cytoplasm of both these species (d, e). Volutin overfills the cytoplasm in gametocytes in H. multivolutinus (f). Young gametocytes of H. multipigmentatus (h) and H. paramultipigmentatus (j) are markedly different in form. Gametocytes of H. sacharovi (k, l) are outwardly similar to gametocytes of Leucocytozoon parasites. Long simple arrows—host cell nuclei. Short simple arrows—parasite nuclei. Simple arrowheads—pigment granules. Triangle wide arrowheads—volutin. Other explanations are given in the text