Fig. 17

Morphological features of gametocytes, which are used for identification of Haemoproteus species parasitizing Galliformes birds. Macrogametocytes (a–h, j–l) and microgametocytes (i) of Haemoproteus lophortyx (a, b), H. stableri (c), H. mansoni (d), H. pratasi (e), H. ammoperdix (f), H. rileyi (g), H. cracidarum (h, i), H. paraortalidum (j) and H. ortalidum (k, l). Note that macrogametocytes of H. paraortalidum and H. ortalidum contain one large (bigger than 1 µm in diameter) circular vacuole (j–l). An unfilled space (a ‘cleft’) is present between the fully grown gametocytes and the nuclei of infected erythrocytes during development of H. lophortyx (a, b) and H. stableri (c). Vacuole-like unstained spaces (j) are present on both ends of H. paraortalidum macrogametocyte. Images a, k, l are from the type material, which is fading, resulting in pale staining and the 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 long arrows—unfilled spaces between gametocytes and nuclei of infected erythrocytes. Simple wide short arrows—vacuoles. Simple wide arrowheads—unstained spaces on the ends of macrogametocyte. Other explanations are given in the text