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Ultrastructure of Hepatozoon boigae (Mackerras, 1961) nov. comb. from brown tree snakes, Boiga irregularis, from northern Australia

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Abstract.

Intraerythrocytic bodies identified as haemogregarine gamonts were found in 29% of 97 brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) examined during a haematological survey of reptiles in Australasia during 1994–1998. The morphological characteristics of the parasites were consistent with those of Haemogregarina boigae Mackerras, 1961, although the gamonts were slightly larger and lacked red caps but contained distinctive polar grey capsules. Gamonts did not distend host cells but laterally displaced their nuclei. They were contained within parasitophorous vacuoles and possessed typical apicomplexan organelles, including a conoid, polar rings, rhoptries and micronemes. Schizonts producing up to 30 merozoites were detected in endothelial cells of the lungs of 11 snakes. The absence of erythrocytic schizogony suggests the parasites belong to the genus Hepatozoon. Electron microscopy also revealed the presence of curious encapsulated organisms in degenerating erythrocytes. These stages did not possess apical complex organelles and were surrounded by thick walls containing circumferential junctions and interposed strips reminiscent of oocyst sutures.

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Acknowledgements.

The authors would like to thank Lien Bahn for technical assistance with electron microscopy. This study was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship awarded to K.J. and research grants from the Australian Research Council and the United States Department of Agriculture in Hawaii.

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  1. K. A. Jakes

    Present address: 20 St Johns Ave, TAS 7008, New Town, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, The University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, Australia

    K. A. Jakes & P. J. O'Donoghue

  2. Department of Anatomical Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, Australia

    J. Whittier

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  1. K. A. Jakes
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  2. P. J. O'Donoghue
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  3. J. Whittier
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Correspondence to K. A. Jakes.

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Jakes, K.A., O'Donoghue, P.J. & Whittier, J. Ultrastructure of Hepatozoon boigae (Mackerras, 1961) nov. comb. from brown tree snakes, Boiga irregularis, from northern Australia. Parasitol Res 90, 225–231 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0849-y

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