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Table 34 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Passeriformes birds (suborder Passeri) of the families Dicaeidae, Estrildidae, Fringillidae, Motacillidae, Nectariniidae, Passeridae and Ploceidae

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

Step

Features and speciesa

1 (30)

The readily distinguishable sickle-shaped space is absent between the growing advanced gametocyte and the nucleus of infected erythrocyte (Fig. 35u, v); advanced growing gametocytes never assume concave shapes (Fig. 35u, v)

2 (31)

Fully grown gametocytes usually do not assume rhabdosomal form (Fig. 35w, x); if rhabdosomal gametocytes develop occasionally, they never predominate. The fully grown gametocytes usually do not enucleate infected erythrocytes (Fig. 35x)

3 (6)

Fully grown microgametocytes contain markedly compressed (not diffuse) nuclei (Fig. 35a, c). The area of microgametocyte nuclei (Fig. 35a, c) is similar or even less than the area of nuclei of fully grown macrogametocytes (Fig. 35b)

4 (5)

Fully grown microgametocytes contain markedly compressed nuclei, which usually assume band-like shapes and are closely associated with the envelope of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 35a)

 

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

H. nucleofascialis (Fig. 35a, b) [177]

5 (4)

Fully grown microgametocytes contain markedly compressed nuclei, which do not assume band-like shapes and usually are not associated with the envelope of infected erythrocytes, but locate free in the cytoplasm (Fig. 35c)

 

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

H. micronuclearis (Fig. 35c) [177]

6 (3)

Fully grown microgametocytes contain large diffuse nuclei (Fig. 35d). The area of microgametocyte nuclei is greater that the area of nuclei of fully grown macrogametocytes (compare Fig. 35d and e)

7 (32)

Fully grown gametocytes, which are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes but do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 35y), are absent

8 (33)

Advanced growing gametocytes (size significantly greater than erythrocyte nuclei, Fig. 35z), which are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes but do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 35z), are absent

9 (36)

Fully grown gametocytes usually do not contain large (1–1.5 µm) pigment granules (Fig. 35aa–cc, ff, gg). Such pigment granules might occur only occasionally in fully grown gametocytes

10 (11)

Fully grown gametocytes are microhalteridial (Fig. 35d, e) or close to microhalteridial; they usually do not reach poles of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 35d, e) and do not occupy the poles of erythrocytes completely (Fig. 35f). Nuclei of fully grown macrogametocytes are predominantly of median position or close to the median position (Fig. 35e)

 

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

H. africanus (Fig. 35d, e) [3, 178]

11 (10)

Fully grown gametocytes are halteridial (Fig. 35h, m, n, q, r, aa) or close to circumnuclear (Fig. 35f, g); they reach poles of infected erythrocytes and occupy the poles of erythrocytes completely. Nuclei of fully grown macrogametocytes are predominantly of subterminal position (Fig. 35f, h, m, r)

12 (21)

Dumbbell-shaped macrogametocytes (Fig. 35g, k, l) are common and often predominate among growing advanced macrogametocytes

13 (14)

Fully grown gametocytes markedly enclose the nuclei of infected erythrocytes with their ends (Fig. 35f) and tend to assume circumnuclear form (Fig. 35g). Circumnuclear gametocytes develop occasionally. The rod-like (thin) pigment granules are common in advanced and fully grown gametocytes (Fig. 35f, g)

 

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

H. homobelopolskyi (Fig. 35f, g) [177]

14 (13)

Fully grown gametocytes only slightly enclose nuclei of infected erythrocytes with their ends (Fig. 35h); they do not tend to assume circumnuclear form. Circumnuclear gametocytes do not develop. Pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes predominantly are roundish or oval in form (Fig. 35h); rod-like (thin) pigment granules (Fig. 35f, g) are not characteristic

15 (16)

Young gametocytes (size of nuclei of erythrocytes) first adhere to the envelope of erythrocytes and then grow towards erythrocyte nuclei (Fig. 35i)

 

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

H. passeris (Fig. 35h, i) [3, 145]

16 (15)

Young gametocytes (size of nuclei of erythrocytes) first adhere to the erythrocyte nuclei and then grow towards erythrocyte envelope (Fig. 35j)

17 (18)

Advanced growing macrogametocytes often are dumbbell-shaped and assume a distinct linear form (Fig. 35k), they deform infected erythrocytes by causing envelop protrusions, which are located in the non-invaded cytoplasmic region of the erythrocytes (Fig. 35k)

 

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

H. fringillae (Fig. 35j, k) [3, 172]

18 (17)

Advanced macrogametocytes often are dumbbell-shaped, but do not assume a distinct linear form (Fig. 35k) and do not deform infected erythrocytes by causing envelop oval protrusions, which are located in the non-invaded cytoplasmic region of the erythrocytes (Fig. 35k)

19 (20)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is less than 15. Markedly attenuated growing advanced dumbbell-shaped gametocytes (Fig. 35l) are common

 

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

H. dolniki (Fig. 35l) [3]

20 (19)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is greater than 15. Markedly attenuated growing dumbbell-shaped gametocytes (Fig. 35l) are not characteristic

 

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

H. queleae (Fig. 35m) [3, 178]

21 (12)

Dumbbell-shaped macrogametocytes (Fig. 35g k, l) are absent or occur only occasionally; they never predominate among growing macrogametocytes

22 (27)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is less than 18

23 (24)

Fully grown gametocytes predominantly contain small pigment granules (less than 0.5 µm), which are dust-like in appearance; medium-size (0.5–1 µm) pigment granules might occur only occasionally

 

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

H. dicaeus (Fig. 35n) [3, 156]

24 (23)

Fully grown gametocytes predominantly contain medium-size (0.5–1 µm) pigment granules

25 (26)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown macrogametocytes is greater than 12. The nuclei of fully grown broadly halteridial macrogametocytes (Fig. 35o) often lie free in the cytoplasm and do not adhere to the envelope of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 35o). Fully grown gametocytes markedly displace nuclei of infected erythrocytes both laterally (Fig. 35o) and sometimes also towards one pole of erythrocytes (Fig. 35p); they occasionally can enucleate the host cells, but gametocytes in enucleated erythrocytes are always rare and might occur only in preparations where fully grown mature forms predominate

 

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

H. tartakovskyi (Fig. 35o, p) [3, 148, 150, 172, 179]

26 (25)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown macrogametocytes is less than 12. The nuclei of fully grown macrogametocytes always adhere to the envelope of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 35q). Fully grown gametocytes markedly displace nuclei of infected erythrocytes laterally (Fig. 35q), but never towards one pole of erythrocytes (Fig. 35p), they never enucleate the host cells

 

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

H. anthi (Fig. 35q) [3]

27 (22)

The average number of pigment granules in fully grown gametocytes is greater than 18 (Fig. 35r–t)

28 (29)

Fully grown gametocytes are broadly halteridial (Fig. 35r); circumnuclear (Fig. 35t) fully grown gametocytes do not occur

 

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

H. orizivorae (Fig. 35r) [3, 178]

29 (28)

Fully grown gametocytes are markedly pleomorphic, and both broadly halteridial (Fig. 35s) and circumnuclear (Fig. 35t) forms might occur simultaneously

 

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

H. globulosus (Fig. 35s, t) [3]

30 (1)

A readily distinguishable sickle-shaped space often is present between the growing advanced gametocyte and the nucleus of infected erythrocyte (Fig. 35u, v); due to this feature growing advanced gametocytes often assume concave shapes (Fig. 35u, v)

 

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

H. concavocentralis (Fig. 35u, v) [63, 100, 121, 168]

31 (2)

Fully grown gametocytes often assume rhabdosomal form (Fig. 35w, x). Fully grown gametocytes often enucleate infected erythrocytes (Fig. 35x)

 

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

H. uraeginthus (Fig. 35w, x) [3, 178]

32 (7)

Fully grown gametocytes, which are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes but do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 35y), are common. Spaces between the fully grown gametocytes and envelope of infected erythrocytes are conspicuous (Fig. 35y)

 

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

H. paranucleophilus (Fig. 35y) [177]

33 (8)

Advanced growing gametocytes (size significantly greater than erythrocyte nuclei, Fig. 35z), which are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes but do not touch the envelope of the erythrocytes along their entire margin (Fig. 35z), are common

34 (35)

Dumbbell-shaped forms (Fig. 35l, z) are common and predominate among growing advanced gametocytes

 

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

H. cyanomitrae (Fig. 35z) [180]

35 (34)

Dumbbell-shaped forms (Fig. 35l, z) usually are absent or occur only occasionally among growing advanced gametocytes

 

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

H. sequeirae [3]

36 (9)

Fully grown gametocytes contain large (1–1.5 µm) pigment granules (Fig. 35aa–dd, ff, gg)

37 (40)

Fully grown gametocytes markedly enclose nuclei of infected erythrocytes with their ends and tend to encircle the nuclei completely (Fig. 35aa–cc). Circumnuclear gametocytes might occur (Fig. 35bb), but usually are rare

38 (39)

The large (1–1.5 µm) elongate pigment granules (Fig. 35aa, bb) are present in fully grown gametocytes; the large (1–1.5 µm) roundish (pea-like in shape) pigment granules (Fig. 35cc) are absent or occur only occasionally

 

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

H. magnus (Fig. 35aa, bb) [3, 85]

39 (38)

The large (1–1.5 µm) roundish (pea-like in shape) pigment granules (Fig. 35cc) are present and predominate in fully grown gametocytes

 

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

H. macropigmentatus (Fig. 35cc) [3]

40 (37)

Fully grown gametocytes slightly enclose nuclei of infected erythrocytes with their ends (Fig. 35dd, gg), but do not tend to encircle the nuclei completely (Fig. 35bb). Circumnuclear gametocytes (Fig. 35bb) are absent

41 (42)

Dumbbell-shaped growing gametocytes (Fig. 35ee) are common. One or both ends of fully grown gametocytes are more or less rounded (Fig. 35dd, ff)

 

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

H. motacillae (Fig. 35dd–ff) [3, 16, 153, 181]

42 (41)

Dumbbell-shaped growing gametocytes (Fig. 35ee) are absent or occur only occasionally. Both ends of fully grown gametocytes usually are more or less pointed (Fig. 35gg)

 

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

H. bubalornis (Fig. 35gg) [3, 178]

  1. aGametocytes of H. majoris were occasionally found in birds of the Fringillidae. This opportunity should be considered during identification of haemoproteids in birds of this family. See Table 30 for identification of H. majoris