Fig. 35

Morphological features of gametocytes, which are used for identification of Haemoproteus species parasitizing passeriform birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Dicaeidae, Estrildidae, Fringillidae, Motacillidae, Nectariniidae, Passeridae and Ploceidae birds. Macrogametocytes (b, e–h, k–y, z–gg), microgametocytes (a, c, d), and young gametocytes (i, j) of H. nucleofascialis (a, b), H. micronuclearis (c), H. africanus (d, e), H. homobelopolskyi (f, g), H. passeris (h, i), H. fringillae (j, k), H. dolniki (l), H. queleae (m), H. dicaeus (n), H. tartakovskyi (o, p), H. anthi (q), H. orizivorae (r), H. globulosus (s, t), H. concavocentralis (u, v), H. uraeginthus (w, x), H. paranucleophilus (y), H. cyanomitrae (z), H. magnus (aa, bb), H. macropigmentatus (cc), H. motacillae (dd–ff) and H. bubalornis (gg). Note that fully grown microgametocytes of H. nucleofascialis and H. micronuclearis contain markedly compressed (not diffuse) nuclei (a, c). Nucleus of fully grown H. africanus macrogametocyte locates centrally (e). The rod-like (thin) pigment granules (f, g) are common in advanced and fully grown gametocytes of H. homobelopolskyi. During growth, the young gametocytes of H. passeris first adhere to envelope of erythrocytes and then grow towards the erythrocyte nuclei (i), but the opposite pattern of growth (j) is characteristic in H. fringillae. Growing advanced macrogametocyte of H. fringillae is dumbbell-shaped and assume a distinct linear form; the parasite deforms infected erythrocytes by causing the envelop protrusion, which is located in the non-invaded cytoplasmic region of the erythrocyte (k). A readily distinguishable space is present between the growing advanced gametocyte of H. concavocentralis and the nucleus of infected erythrocyte, resulting in the gametocyte concave form (u, v). Fully grown gametocytes of H. uraeginthus often assume rhabdosomal form (w, x) and enucleate infected erythrocytes (x). Fully grown gametocytes of H. paranucleophilus are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes but do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (y). Advanced growing gametocytes of H. cyanomitrae are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes but often do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (z); the similar feature is characteristic of H. sequeirae (not shown). Fully grown gametocytes of H. magnus, H. macropigmentatus, H. motacillae and H. bubalornis contain the large-size pigment granules (aa–cc, ff, gg). Images w, x are 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 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 structures of infected erythrocytes. Simple wide short arrows—vacuoles. Triangle long arrow—protrusion of the erythrocyte envelope. Other explanations are given in the text