Table 9 Key to the Haemoproteus species of Charadriiformes

1 (2)

Fully grown gametocytes, which rotate erythrocyte nuclei 45° to 90° to the normal axis (Fig. 10a–c), are common

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

H. rotator (Fig. 10a–c) [3, 70]

2 (1)

Fully grown gametocytes, which rotate erythrocyte nuclei 45° to 90° to the normal axis (Fig. 10a–c), are absent or appear only incidentally

3 (9)

Fully grown gametocytes, which completely encircle the nuclei of erythrocytes, are present (Fig. 10d, e, h). Close to circumnuclear (Fig. 10f, g, i) and completely circumnuclear (Fig. 10d, e, h) forms are common at final stage of gametocyte growth

4 (12)

Fully grown circumnuclear macrogametocytes and microgametocytes are closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes and occupy all available cytoplasmic space in the erythrocytes (Fig. 10d, h)

5 (6)

Nucleoli are readily visible in nuclei of advanced and fully grown macrogametocytes (Fig. 10d)

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

H. scolopaci (Fig. 10d, e) [3, 71]

6 (5)

Nucleoli (Fig. 10d) are invisible in nuclei advanced and fully grown macrogametocytes

7 (8)

Fully grown gametocytes contain predominantly roundish or slightly oval, of approximately uniform size and shape pigment granules (Fig. 10f, g). Elongate rod-like (thin) pigment granules (Fig. 10h, i) usually are absent

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

H. jenniae (Fig. 10f, g) [72]

8 (7)

Fully grown gametocytes contain variable in size and shape pigment granules; roundish, oval and elongate rod-like (thin) pigment granules develop, but oval and rod-like pigment granules readily predominate (Fig. 10h, i)

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

H. larae (Fig. 10h, i) [3, 73, 74]

9 (3)

Fully grown gametocytes, which completely encircle the nuclei of erythrocytes (Fig. 10d, e, h), are absent. Advanced and fully grown gametocytes are halteridial (Fig. 10j, k)

10 (11)

Fully grown gametocytes contain large (1.0 to 1.5 µm) pigment granules (Fig. 10 j)

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

H. abdusalomovi (Fig. 10j) [3, 75]

11 (10)

Fully grown gametocytes do not contain large (1.0 to 1.5 µm) pigment granules

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

H. burhini (Fig. 10k) [3, 65]

12 (4)

Fully grown circumnuclear macrogametocytes are not closely appressed to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes and do not occupy all available cytoplasmic space in the erythrocytes (Fig. 10m, o, p). More or less evident unfilled space is present between fully grown circumnuclear macrogametocytes and nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 10m, o, p). Shape of fully grown macrogametocytes is markedly irregular (wriggled) (Fig. 10m, o, p)

13 (14)

Cytoplasm of advanced and fully grown gametocytes is markedly vacuolated, with several large (bigger than 1 µm) vacuoles often present (Fig. 10l, n). Fully grown microgametocytes, which adhere to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 10n), are common

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

H. skuae (Fig. 10l–n) [76]

14 (13)

Cytoplasm of advanced and fully grown gametocytes is not markedly vacuolated; large (bigger than 1 µm in diameter) vacuoles (Fig. 10l, n) usually are absent, but a few small vacuoles might occur. Fully grown gametocytes, which adhere to the nuclei of infected erythrocytes (Fig. 10n), are absent or occur only occasionally

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

H. contortus (Fig. 10o, p) [3, 70]