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Sporozoites of Eimeria acervulina within intestinal macrophages in normal experimental infections

An ultrastructural study

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Summary

Sporozoites of Eimeria acervulina were observed in macrophages of the intestinal epithelium 5 and 6 days post-infection. These sporozoites lay within a well developed parasitophorous vacuole, were normal in structure and showed no signs of development. Macrophages harbouring sporozoites showed considerable structural changes, most pronounced being an absence of lysosomes, an enlarged nucleolus and extensive proliferation of the Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum. Possible mechanisms of survival and transport of sporozoites to preferred sites of development are discussed.

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Abbreviations

ER:

Endoplasmic reticulum

ERM:

Endoplasmic reticulum of macrophage

GOM:

Golgi zone of macrophage

INM:

Invaginations of macrophage cell membrane

LM:

Lipid globule of macrophage

LYM:

Lysosomes of macrophage

MI:

Mitochondria

MIM:

Mitochondria of macrophage

MN:

Micronemes

MP:

Micropore

N:

Nucleus

NM:

Nucleus of macrophage

PO:

Rhoptries (paired organelles)

PV:

Parasitophorous vacuole

RB:

Refractile body

V:

Vacuole

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmaceutical Division, Veterinary Research Department, May & Baker Ltd., England

    E. Michael

Authors
  1. E. Michael
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Additional information

This study was carried out in the Department of Poultry Research, Wye College (University of London), Wye, Kent, while the author was a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow.

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Michael, E. Sporozoites of Eimeria acervulina within intestinal macrophages in normal experimental infections. Z. F. Parasitenkunde 49, 33–40 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445016

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445016

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