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Table 33 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Passeriformes birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Mimidae, Muscicapidae, Sittidae, Sturnidae and Turdidaea

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

Step

Features and species

1 (20)

Fully grown gametocytes do not contain large (1–1.5 µm) rod-like, thin pigment granules (Fig. 34o)

2 (21)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is less than 20

3 (24)

Fully grown gametocytes are closely appressed to the nuclei and envelope of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 34c–g). Fully grown gametocytes, which do not touch the erythrocyte envelope along their entire margin (Fig. 34s, t), are absent

4 (15)

Fully grown macrogametocytes and/or microgametocytes are halteridial (Fig. 34c–e, g); they reach poles of infected erythrocytes and can occupy the poles completely (Fig. 34c–e, g)

5 (8)

Volutin is present and abundant in gametocytes (Fig. 34a–d). Advanced and fully grown gametocytes are overfilled with volutin granules, which obscure visualization of pigment granules (Fig. 34a–d)

6 (7)

Advanced growing microgametocytes, which (i) fill the infected erythrocytes up to their poles and (ii) have the pronounced dumbbell-like shape with the portion of the parasite adjacent to the erythrocyte nucleus markedly narrowed (the width of the parasite at this portion is close to 1 µm) (Fig. 34b), are present

 

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

H. attenuatus (Fig. 34a, b)b [3, 46, 170]

7 (6)

Advanced growing microgametocytes, which (i) fill the infected erythrocytes up to their poles and (ii) have the pronounced dumbbell-like shape with the portion of the parasite adjacent to the erythrocyte nucleus markedly narrowed (the width of the parasite at this portion is close to 1 µm) (Fig. 34a, b), are absent

 

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

H. balmorali (Fig. 34c, d)b [3, 82, 153, 171, 172]

8 (5)

Volutin is absent or scanty. Advanced and fully grown gametocytes are not overfilled with volutin granules (Fig. 34a–d), which obscure visualization of pigment granules

9 (14)

The dumbbell-shaped macrogametocytes (Fig. 34j) are absent or occur only occasionally among growing advanced macrogametocytes

10 (11)

The medium size (0.5–1 µm) pigment granules predominate in fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 34e)

 

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

H. pastoris (Fig. 34e) [3, 128, 146, 173]

11 (10)

The medium size (0.5–1 µm) pigment granules (Fig. 34e) are absent or occur only occasionally in fully grown gametocytes; small (less than 0.5 µm) pigment granules (Fig. 34f-i) readily predominate in fully grown gametocytes

12 (13)

Nearly fully grown gametocytes, which do not touch the envelope of infected erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 34h), are absent. Nearly fully grown gametocytes are closely appressed to the envelope of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 34f)

 

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

H. homominutus (Fig. 34f, g) [63, 100]

13 (12)

Nearly fully grown gametocytes, which do not touch the envelope of infected erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 34h), are common and predominate

 

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

H. kairullaevi (Fig. 34h, i) [3, 174]

14 (9)

The dumbbell-shaped macrogametocytes (Fig. 34j) are common and predominate among growing advanced macrogametocytes

 

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

H. sittae (Fig. 34j) [3]

15 (4)

Fully grown gametocytes are microhalteridial (Fig. 34l–n); they do not reach poles of infected erythrocytes and do not occupy the poles completely (Fig. 34l–n)

16 (19)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is greater than 10

17 (18)

Macrogametocyte nuclei predominantly assume the central or subcentral position (Fig. 34k). The asymmetrical position of advanced growing gametocytes in regard of erythrocyte nuclei (Fig. 34k) is characteristic

 

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

H. asymmetricus (Fig. 34k) [63]

18 (17)

Macrogametocyte nuclei predominantly assume the subterminal position (Fig. 34l). The asymmetrical position of advanced growing gametocytes in regard of erythrocyte nuclei (Fig. 34k) is not characteristic

 

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

H. fallisi (Fig. 34l) [3, 63, 175]

19 (16)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is less than 10. Macrogametocyte nuclei assume predominantly terminal or close to terminal position (Fig. 34m). The asymmetrical position of advanced growing gametocytes in regard of erythrocyte nuclei (Fig. 34k) is not characteristic

 

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

H. minutus (Fig. 34m, n) [3, 16, 63, 82, 100, 147, 173]

20 (1)

Fully grown gametocytes contain large (1–1.5 µm) rod-like, thin pigment granules (Fig. 34o)

 

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

H. beckeri (Fig. 34o) [3, 176]

21 (2)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is greater than 20

22 (23)

Advanced growing gametocytes of dumbbell-shape (Fig. 34p, q) are present and common

 

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

H. neseri (Fig. 34p, q) [3, 79]

23 (22)

Advanced growing gametocytes of dumbbell-shape (Fig. 34p, q) are absent

 

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

H. nipponensis (Fig. 34r) [3, 139]

24 (3)

Fully grown gametocytes are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes, but do not touch the erythrocyte envelope along their entire margin (Fig. 34s, t)

 

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

H. pallidus (Fig. 34s, t) [3, 63, 100, 147, 148, 153, 168, 173]

  1. aGametocytes of Haemoproteus majoris were occasionally reported in birds of the Muscicapidae and Turdidae. This opportunity should be considered during identification of haemoproteids found in birds of these families (see keys to the parasites of these bird families)
  2. bFully grown gametocytes of H. attenuatus and H. balmorali (Fig. 34c, d) are very similar. However, these species are readily distinguishable due to the different mode of the gametocyte growth. Mainly, the attenuated growing gametocytes develop in H. attenuatus (Fig. 34b) but do not develop in H. balmorali. During species identification, this feature worth attention because co-infection of these parasites was reported