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Life cycle ofHepatozoon mehlhorni. sp. nov. in the viperEchis carinatus and the mosquitoCulex pipiens

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Abstract

Hepatozoon mehlhori sp. nov. and its developmental stages from the tissues of the Egyptian viperEchis carinatus and the mosquitoCulex pipines are described. The erythrocytic parasites were differentiated into the small form (trophozoite) measuring 14.5±0.6×4±0.12 μm and the mature form (gametocyte) measuring 17.2±1.6×5.4±0.5μm. Merogony took place in the pulmonary endothelial cells and in the parenchyma cells of the liver and spleen of the infected vipers. Two types of meront were found. The large meronts (macromeronts) were 30.2±1.73×22.6±1.2 μm in size and yielded 16–40 (average 28) micromerozoites measuring 17.2±0.7×5±0.15 μm. The small, meronts (micromeronts) measured 18.2±0.6×13.5±0.5 μm and yielded 2–14 (average, 8) macromerozoites that were 15.1±0.12×6.2±0.8 μm in size. After syzygy in the haemocoel of the mosquito, the microgamont produced four uniflagel-late microgametes (6.4±0.3×4.5±0.5 μm in size, with a short flagellum measuring 3.2±0.1 μm); on the 3rd day post-infection (p.i.)., one of these fertilized the macrogamete, giving rise to the zygote. The oocyst developed from the zygote on the 5th day p.i. and measured 135±2.6×120±1.8 μm. About 11–60 (average, 35) sporoblasts were formed by centripetal invaginations from each oocyst on the 8th day p.i. and developed into sporocysts on the 14th day p.i. Inside each sporocyst, 5–12 (average, 8) sporozoites, each measuring 12.6±1.2×4.1±0.3 μm, developed on the 16th day p.i. According to the above-mentioned characteristics the parasite was recorded as being a new species and was namedHepatozoon mehlhorni. Experimental transmission was accomplished by i.p. inoculation of the infectious stages (sporozoites) into uninfected vipers and led to the appearance of blood stages at 4–6 weeks p.i.

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Abbreviations

BLC :

Blood capillary

DMS :

developing merozoites

DSP :

developing sporoblasts

E :

erythrocyte

F :

flagellum

HC :

host cell

HN :

host nucleus

M :

Meront

MA :

macrogamont/macrogamete

MG :

Microgamete

MIG :

microgamont

MS :

merozoites

N :

nucleus

NG :

micleus of the microgamete

OC :

oocyst

P :

erythrocytic parasite

PV :

Parasitophorous vacuole

SP :

sporoblast (s)

SPC :

sporocyst (s)

SPR :

sporozoite (s)

ZY :

zygote (young oocyst)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    A. -R. Bashtar, F. A. Abdel-Ghaffar & M. A. Shazly

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  1. A. -R. Bashtar
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  2. F. A. Abdel-Ghaffar
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  3. M. A. Shazly
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Bashtar, A.R., Abdel-Ghaffar, F.A. & Shazly, M.A. Life cycle ofHepatozoon mehlhorni. sp. nov. in the viperEchis carinatus and the mosquitoCulex pipiens . Parasitol Res 77, 402–410 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931635

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