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Table 12 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Columbiformes birds a

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

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Features and species

1 (12)

Fully grown gametocytes are predominantly halteridial in form (Fig. 13a–i); they outwardly are not similar to gametocytes of Leucocytozoon sp.

2 (9)

Volutin is prominent and readily visible in fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 13a–f) b

3 (8)

Volutin is arranged as discrete granules (volutin granules) (Fig. 13a–e), but does not overfill more or less evenly the entire gametocyte cytoplasm

4 (5)

Large (1 µm and bigger) discrete volutin granules are present in fully grown microgametocytes (Fig. 13b). Pigment granules (hemozoin) are present inside volutin granules; this is particularly well visible in microgametocytes (Fig. 13b)

 

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H. columbaec (Fig. 13a, b) [3, 45, 62, 80,81,82,83]

5 (4)

Large (1 µm and bigger) volutin granules (Fig. 13b) are absent from fully grown microgametocytes. Pigment granules (hemozoin) are absent from volutin granules (Fig. 13c–e)

6 (7)

Fully grown macrogametocytes and microgametocytes markedly displace nuclei of infected erythrocytes laterally (Fig. 13c, d). NDR is less than 0.5

 

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H. turturd (Fig. 13c, d) [3, 45, 82,83,84,85]

7 (6)

Fully grown macrogametocytes and microgametocytes do not displace or only slightly displace nuclei of infected erythrocytes laterally (Fig. 13e). NDR is greater than 0.5

 

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H. palumbisc (Fig. 13e) [3, 82, 83, 86]

8 (3)

Volutin (Fig. 13a-e) is not arranged as discrete granules (volutin granules); it is arranged as prominent irregular clamps, which often overlap and usually overfill more or less evenly the entire cytoplasm in fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 13f)

 

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H. multivolutinusc (Fig. 13f) [82]

9 (2)

Volutin is absent from fully grown gametocytes or difficult to visualize (Fig. 13g, i) b

10 (11)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown macrogametocytes and microgametocytes is greater than 30. The earlies young gametocytes look like elongate slender bodies (Fig. 13h)

 

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H. multipigmentatusc (Fig. 13g, h) [45, 82, 83]

11 (10)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown macrogametocytes and microgametocytes is less than 30. The earlies young gametocytes look like broadly ovoid bodies (Fig. 13j)

 

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H. paramultipigmentatusc (Fig. 13i, j) [82]

12 (1)

Fully grown gametocytes are highly pleomorphic; many of them are outwardly similar to gametocytes of Leucocytozoon (Fig. 13k, l); they cause marked deformation of the infected erythrocytes (Fig. 13k, l). Pigment granules are few (less than 10 on average), tiny (often dust-like in appearance, see Fig. 13l)

 

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H. sacharovid (Fig. 13k, l) [3, 45, 80, 82, 83, 87]

  1. aSpecies of subgenera Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus parasitize birds of order Columbiformes. Parasites of these two subgenera cannot be distinguished based on morphological characters of their gametocytes. To facilitate identification of all species parasitizing columbiform birds, the parasites of both subgenera were given in this key
  2. bVisualisation and evaluation of volutin might be difficult in poorly stained blood films or fading preparations. Identification of parasite species should be avoided in poorly stained blood film preparations
  3. cSpecies of subgenus Haemoproteus
  4. dSpecies of subgenus Parahaemoproteus