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Table 27 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Passeriformes birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Meliphagidae, Oriolidae, Pachycephalidae, Vireonidae

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

Step

Features and species

1 (5)

Growing advanced gametocytes (size greater than length of erythrocyte nuclei), which do not touch the envelope of infected erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 28e, f), are absent

2 (6)

Nuclei predominantly assume subterminal or submedian position in fully grown macrogametocytes (Fig. 28a, b)

3 (4)

Fully grown macrogametocytes and microgametocytes are halteridial (Fig. 28b). Pigment granules are markedly variable in size and form in advanced gametocytes (Fig. 28a). Small (less than 0.5 μm) and medium (0.5 to 1.0 μm) size pigment granules occur approximately equally in fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 28a, b)

 

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H. vireonis (Fig. 28a, b) [3, 62, 135, 136]

4 (3)

Fully grown macrogametocytes are halteridial (Fig. 28d), but microgametocytes are more pleomorphic (halteridial, close to circumnuclear and occasionally even circumnuclear forms occur). Pigment granules are usually more or less uniform in size and form in advanced gametocytes (Fig. 28c, d). Pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes are usually of medium size (0.5 to 1.0 μm). Small (less than 0.5 μm) pigment granules are not present or are uncommon in fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 28d)

 

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H. ptilotis (Fig. 28c, d) [3, 137, 138]

5 (1)

Growing advanced gametocytes (size greater than length of erythrocyte nuclei), which do not touch the envelope of infected erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 28e, f), are common

 

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H. pachycephalus (Fig. 28e, f) [3, 139]

6 (2)

Nuclei predominantly assume terminal or close to the terminal position in fully grown macrogametocytes (Fig. 28g, h)

 

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H. orioli (Fig. 28g, h) [3, 140]