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Fig. 33 | Malaria Journal

Fig. 33

From: Keys to the avian Haemoproteus parasites (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae)

Fig. 33Fig. 33

Morphological features of gametocytes, which are used for identification of Haemoproteus species parasitizing passeriform birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Leiothrichidae, Phylloscopidae, Pycnonotidae, Sylviidae and Zosteropidae birds. Macrogametocytes (a–c, e–h, j–q, s, t, v), microgametocytes (d, r, u) and young gametocyte (i) of H. killangoi (a, b), H. parabelopolskyi (c–e), H. leiothrichus and H. homoleiothrichus (f, g), H. timalus (h, i), H. philippinensis (j), H. vacuolatus (k), H. palloris (l), H. homogeneae (m), H. otocompsae (n, o), H. sanguinis (p), H. pallidulus (q, r), H. homopalloris (s) and H. zosteropis (t-v). Note that dumbbell-shaped gametocyte does not touch envelope of infected erythrocyte along its entire margin (j) in H. philippinensis. The majority of advanced macrogametocytes contain a clear roundish discrete vacuole (k, l) in H. vacuolatus and H. palloris. The cytoplasm is homogenous in appearance (m) in macrogametocytes of H. homogeneae. Advanced growing macrogametocytes of H. otocompsae and H. sanguinis are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes but do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (n). The macrogametocyte cytoplasm is relatively pale-stained (q) and is similar to microgametocyte (r) based this character. Fully grown gametocytes of H. killangoi and H. zosteropis contain large size (greater than 1 µm) pigment granules (a, b, t–v). Images j, v 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—spaces between gametocytes and envelope of infected erythrocytes. Simple wide short arrows—vacuoles. Other explanations are given in the text

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