Abstract
Giemsa-stained smears ofHerpetomonas megaseliae cultures in LIT medium displayed on several occasions not only the typically dividing promastigotes but also pairs of apposed parasites attached by their posterior ends, where a cellular enlargement and a ring-like border generally occurred; other pairs formed by an clongated promastigote and a bell-shaped cell were also found. In both cases, either each of the joined cells could have its own nucleus or one of them was anucleate and the other presented two nuclei that were sometimes so close that they appeared to be a single nucleus. These findings, along with others seeming to be intermediate steps between them, strongly suggested that a sexual process, involving parasite union followed by nuclear migration from one cell to the other and then by fusion, was taking place in such cultures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abe Y (1980) On the encystment ofLeptomonas sp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), a parasite of the silkworm,Bombyx mori Linnaeus. J Protozool 27:372–374
Brener Z (1972) A new aspect ofTrypanosoma cruzi life-cycle in the invertebrate host. J Protozool 19:23–27
Camargo EP (1964) Growth and differentiation inTrypanosoma cruzi. 1. Origin of metacyclic trypanosomes in liquid media. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 6:93–100
Carvalho ALM (1973) Estudos sobre a posição sistemática, a biologia e a transmissão de tripanosomatídeos encontrados emZelus leucogrammus (Perty, 1834) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). Rev Pat Trop 2:223–274
Cupolillo E, Grimaldi G Jr, Momen H (1992) Hybrid parasites in theLeishmania braziliensis “complex” causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. Isozyme Bull 25:51
Deane MP, Milder R (1966) A process of reproduction ofTrypanosoma conorhini different from binary or multiple fission. J Protozool 13:553–559
Evans DA, Ellis DS (1983) Recent observations on the behaviour of certain trypanosomes within their insect hosts. Adv Parasitol 22:1–42
Evans DA, Kennedy WPK, Elbihari S, Chapman CJ, Smith V, Peters W (1987) Hybrid formation within the genusLeishmania? Parasitologia 29:165–173
Evans DA, Smith V, Killick-Kendrick R, Neal RA, Peters W (1989) Evidence for hybrid formation in the genusLeishmania. In: Hart DT (ed) Leishmaniasis: the current status and new strategies for control. Plenum, New York London, pp 685–690
Gibson WC, Marshall TFC, Godfrey DG (1980) Numerical analysis of enzyme polymorphism: a new approach to the epidemiology and taxonomy of trypanosomes of the subgenusTrypanozoon. Adv Parasitol 18:175–246
Glassberg J, Miyazaki L, Rifkin MR (1985) Isolation and partial characterization of mutants of the trypanosomatidCrithidia fasciculata and their use in detecting genetic recombination. J Protozool 32:118–125
Hoare CA (1972) The trypanosomes of mammals. A zoological monograph, Blackwell, Oxford Edinburgh
Kelly JM, Law JM, Chapman CJ, Van Eys GJJM, Evans DA (1991) Evidence of genetic recombination inLeishmania. Mol Biochem Parasitol 46:253–264
Lanotte G, Rioux J-A (1990) Fusion cellulaire chez lesLeishmania (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae). C R Acad Sci [D] 310:285–288
Le Blank SM, Peters W (1986)Leishmania in the Old World. 2. Heterogeneity amongL. tropica zymodemes. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 80:113–119
Le Blank SM, Schnur LF, Schlein Y (1983) An apparent association of enzymic variants ofLeishmania major with specific geographical areas in Israel. Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales 76:543–548
Maazoun R, Lanotte G, Rioux J-A, Pasteur N, Killick-Kendrick R, Pratlong F (1981) Signification du polymorphisme enzymatique chez les leishmanies. A propos de trois souches hétérozygotes deLeishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908,Leishmania cf.tarentolae Wenyon, 1921 etLeishmania aethiopica Bray, Ashford et Bray, 1973. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 56:467–475
Noble ER (1955) The morphology and life cycles of trypanosomes. Q Rev Biol 30:1–28
Nyindo M, Chimtawi M, Owor J (1981)Trypanosoma brucei: evidence suggesting existence of sexual forms of parasites cultured from the tsetse,Glossina morsitans morsitans. Insect Sci Appl 1:171–175
Panton LJ, Tesh RB, Nadeau KC, Beverley SM (1991) A test for genetic exchange in mixed infections ofLeishmania major in the sand flyPhlebotomus papatasi. J Protozool 38:224–228
Shehata M, El Sattar S, Morsy T, El Sawaf B (1991) Experimental dual infection ofLeishmania inPhlebotomus langeroni (Diptera: Psychodidae). Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 85:739–740
Skarlato SO, Malysheva MN (1987) Ultrastructure of giant multinucleate cells of the parasitic flagellateCrithidia oncopelti (Kinetoplastida). Tsitologiya 29:1337–1342
Sousa MA (1991) Cytological events suggesting sexuality in a trypanosomatid. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 86 [Suppl 1]:268
Tait A (1980) Evidence for diploidy and mating in trypanosomes. Nature 287:536–538
Tait A, Turner CMR (1990) Genetic exchange inTrypanosoma brucei. Parasitol Today 6:70–75
Walker PJ (1964) Reproduction and heredity in trypanosomes. A critical review dealing mainly with the African species in the mammalian host. Int Rev Cytol 17:51–98
Wenrich DH (1954) Sex in Protozoa. A comparative review. In: Wenrich DH, Lewis IF, Raper JR (eds) Sex in microorganisms. American Association for Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C., pp 134–265
Wenyon CM (1926) Protozoology, vol 1. Baillière, Tindall and Cox, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sousa, M.A. Cell-to-cell interactions suggesting a sexual process inHerpetomonas megaseliae (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). Parasitol Res 80, 112–116 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933777
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933777