Fig. 30

Morphological features of gametocytes, which are used for identification of Haemoproteus species parasitizing passeriform birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Corvidae, Dicruridae, Laniidae, Monarchidae birds. Macrogametocytes (a, b, e, g–j) and microgametocytes (c, d, f) of H. homopicae (a–c), H. picae (d), H. danilewskii (e, f), H. lanii (g), H. dicruri (h) and H. monarchus (i, j). Note that the cytoplasm is markedly vacuolated (c) in growing and fully grown microgametocytes of H. homopicae, but this is not a case (d) in microgametocytes of H. picae. Macrogametocyte nucleus is closely appressed to the nucleus of infected erythrocyte (g) in H. lanii. Growing gametocyte of H. monarchus is dumbbell-shaped and does not touch the envelope of erythrocyte along its entire margin (i). Image i is from the type material, which is fading, resulting in pale staining and the poorly recognizable pigment granules and nucleus, however the overall form of the gametocyte is readily visible. Long simple arrows—host cell nuclei. Short simple arrows—parasite nuclei. Simple arrowheads—pigment granules. Simple wide long arrows—spaces between gametocytes and envelope of infected erythrocytes. Simple wide short arrows—vacuoles. Other explanations are given in the text