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Table 13 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Coraciiformes birds a

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

Step

Features and species

1 (6)

Fully grown gametocytes, which displace the nuclei of infected erythrocytes towards one pole of the erythrocytes (Fig. 14a, e) are present; some fully grown gametocytes can enucleate the erythrocytes (Fig. 14b–d)

2 (5)

The average number of pigment granules in gametocytes is greater than 11. Macrogametocytes usually do not possess a conspicuous large (bigger than 1 µm in diameter) vacuole (Fig. 14e). Microgametocytes with a highly ameboid outline (Fig. 14f) are not characteristic

3 (4)

Erythrocytes with fully grown gametocytes are significantly atrophied in width in comparison to uninfected erythrocytes

 

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H. lairdi (Fig. 14a, b) [3, 88]

4 (3)

Erythrocytes with fully grown gametocytes are not significantly atrophied in width (Fig. 14c) in comparison to uninfected erythrocytes

 

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H. enucleator (Fig. 14c, d) [3, 89]

5 (2)

The average number of pigment granules in gametocytes is less than 11. Macrogametocytes frequently possess one conspicuous large (greater than 0.5 µm in diameter) vacuole (Fig. 14e). Microgametocytes with a highly ameboid outline (Fig. 14f) are common

 

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H. gavrilovi (Fig. 14e, f) [3, 90, 91]

6 (1)

Fully grown gametocytes, which displace the nuclei of infected erythrocytes toward one pole of the erythrocytes (Fig. 14a, e) are absent; fully grown gametocytes do not enucleate the erythrocytes

7 (10)

Fully grown gametocytes markedly enclose the nuclei of infected erythrocytes with their ends (Fig. 14g–k) and finally can completely encircle the nuclei (Fig. 14g, i). Circumnuclear gametocytes develop (Fig. 14g, h)

8 (9)

Circumnuclear fully grown gametocytes are common (Fig. 14i). Advanced growing gametocytes usually do not adhere to nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 14h). The average number of pigment granules in gametocytes is greater than 20

 

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H. fuscae (Fig. 14g–i) [3, 92, 93]

9 (8)

Fully grown gametocytes markedly enclose the nuclei of infected erythrocytes with their ends (Fig. 14j, k) and can completely encircle the nuclei of erythrocytes, but the circumnuclear fully grown gametocytes are uncommon and might appear only at final stages of gametocyte maturation. Advanced growing gametocytes are closely appressed to nuclei of the infected erythrocytes (Fig. 14j). The average number of pigment granules in gametocytes is less than 20

 

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H. coraciae (Fig. 14j, k) [3, 90, 94]

10 (7)

Fully grown gametocytes only slightly enclose the nuclei of infected erythrocytes with their ends (Fig. 14l–t) and never encircle them completely. Fully grown gametocytes are halteridial or broadly halteridial (Fig. 14l–t). Circumnuclear gametocytes (Fig. 14g, i) do not develop

11 (16)

Nuclei of microgametocytes are diffuse (non-condensed) (Fig. 14p, r); size of microgametocyte nuclei is greater than in macrogametocytes (compare Fig. 14p, r with Fig. 14q)

12 (13)

The average number of pigment granules in gametocytes is greater than 15

 

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H. eurystomae (Fig. 14l–n) [3, 95]

13 (12)

The average number of pigment granules in gametocytes is less than 15

14 (15)

Fully grown gametocytes are broadly halteridial (Fig. 14o, p). The cytoplasm of advanced macrogametocytes often contains conspicuous small (usually less than 1 µm in diameter) circular vacuoles (Fig. 14o). The average width of fully grown gametocytes is greater than 4 µm. The average NDR is 0.5 or less

 

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H. manwelli (Fig. 14o, p) [3, 88, 91]

15 (14)

Fully grown gametocytes are halteridial (Fig. 14q, r). The cytoplasm of advanced macrogametocytes usually do not contains conspicuous small circular vacuoles (Fig. 14o). The average width of fully grown gametocytes is less than 4 µm. The average NDR is greater than 0.5

 

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H. meropis (Fig. 12q, r) [3, 88]

16 (11)

Nuclei of microgametocytes are small (condensed) (Fig. 14t); size of nuclei in macrogametocytes Fig. 14s) and microgametocytes (Fig. 14t) are similar

 

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H. halcyonis (Fig. 14s, t) [3, 92]

  1. aHaemoproteus goodmani and H. forresteri were described from the pitta-like ground-roller Atelornis pittoides and the rufous-headed ground-roller Atelornis crossleyi, respectively [96]. These birds belong to the Brachypteraciidae, the endemic to Madagascar bird family of Coraciiformes. Descriptions of these two parasite species were based on morphological characters of gametocytes from the pale-stained blood films, which are fading. It is clear from the original description that the fully grown gametocytes of H. goodmani are broadly halteridial with variable margins. This parasite is different from H. forresteri, whose fully grown gametocytes are circumnuclear. However, further taxonomically important details of gametocyte morphology of both species were scarcely addressed in the original description. Due to limited available information about morphology of gametocytes, H. goodmani and H. forresteri were not included in the key. Redescription of both parasites from their type hosts is needed