Table 31 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Passeriformes birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Acrocephalidae and Hirundinidae^a

1 (10)

Gametocytes do not contain gigantic pigment granules (greater than 1.5 μm) (Fig. 32k, l). The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is greater than five

2 (5)

The nuclear material is condensed in fully grown microgametocytes (Fig. 32b, c); the size of the nuclei in microgametocytes does not exceed that of the nuclei in macrogametocytes (compare Fig. 32a and Fig. 32b)

3 (4)

Fully grown gametocytes are microhalteridial; they usually do not reach poles of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 32a, b). Growing advanced gametocytes, which do not touch envelope of infected erythrocytes along their entire margins (Fig. 32d), are absent. Pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes tend to clamp in one or two louse groups, which often locate close to the gametocyte ends (Fig. 32b), however, the gametocytes with scattered pigment granules are also present (Fig. 32a)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. payevskyi (Fig. 32a, b) [3, 147, 148, 157]

4 (3)

Fully grown gametocytes are halteridial (Fig. 32c); they usually reach poles of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 32c). Advanced growing gametocytes, which do not touch envelope of infected erythrocytes along their entire margins, are present (Fig. 32d). Pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes are usually scattered (Fig. 32c, d), they do not tend to clamp in one or two louse groups, which locate close to the gametocyte ends (Fig. 32b)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. nucleocondensus (Fig. 32c, d) [148, 149, 158]

5 (2)

The nuclear material is diffuse (not condensed) in fully grown microgametocytes (Fig. 32e, j); the size of the nuclei in microgametocytes markedly exceeds that of the nucleus in macrogametocytes (compare Fig. 32e and Fig. 32f)

6 (7)

Gametocytes grow around nuclei of infected erythrocytes and only slightly (if at all) displace the nuclei laterally (Fig. 32g). Fully grown gametocytes markedly enclose the erythrocyte nuclei with their ends and are predominantly close to circumnuclear in form (Fig. 32f); completely circumnuclear forms might occur (Fig. 32e), but do not predominate. Ends of advanced growing gametocytes predominantly are more or less irregular or ameboid in outline (Fig. 32g)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. belopolskyi (Fig. 32e–g) [3, 147,148,149, 159, 160]

7 (6)

Gametocytes grow along nuclei of infected erythrocytes and markedly displace the nuclei laterally (Fig. 32h–j). Fully grown gametocytes are broadly halteridial (Fig. 32h, j); they only slightly enclose the erythrocyte nuclei with their ends (Fig. 32h, j); circumnuclear or close to circumnuclear gametocytes (Fig. 32e, f) are absent. Ends of advanced growing gametocytes predominantly are more or less even in outline (Fig. 32i)

8 (9)

The nuclei of fully grown macrogametocytes are predominantly median or submedian in position (Fig. 32h). Fully grown gametocytes contain the pigment granules of more or less uniform size, and oval to slightly elongate granules of medium size (0.5–1 μm) predominate (Fig. 32h). Large (1–1.5 μm) pigment granules are absent

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. parahirundinis (Fig. 32h) [161]

9 (8)

The nuclei of fully grown macrogametocytes are subterminal in position (Fig. 32i). Fully grown gametocytes contain pigment granules of markedly variable size, and small (< 0.5 μm), medium (0.5–1 μm) and sometimes even large (1–1.5 μm) pigment granules might occur simultaneously in same gametocytes (Fig. 32i, j)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. hirundinis (Fig. 32i, j) [3, 149, 161]

10 (1)

Gigantic pigment granules are present in fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 32k, l). The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is less than five

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

H. stellaris (Fig. 32k, l) [3, 161, 162]