Leucocytozoon grusi sp. n. (Sporozoa: Leucocytozoidae) from a Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis (L.)

Avian Leucocytozoidae: the leucocytozoids of the Phasianidaesensu lato

“…The type of host cell invaded may even prove to be a species-specific characteristic. Therefore, the ratios predicated on the degree of hypertrophy of host cells as postulated by Bennett et al (1974) were probably postulated in error and of little value, and hence are not used in this study.…”

“…Therefore, dual sets of criteria must be produced for these species which have both morphs. Bennett et al (1974) had assumed that leucocytozoids invade only erythrocytes, and hence they presented data on the size of infected red blood cells and derived indices (ratios) to demonstrate the degree of hypertrophy that the parasites can produce. Unfortunately, it is not unequivocally proven that leucocytozoids attack only erythrocytes, and it is still unclear which types of blood cells these parasites attack or whether they can invade either erythrocytes or leucocytes or both when opportunity avails (the first author has seen numerous instances where leucocytozoids have invaded both large and small monocytes).…”

“…Valkiunas Downloaded by [Anadolu University] at 12:20 20 December 2014 made no comparisons, suggested no synonomies and apparently accepted all the species on the basis of a 'one host-one parasite' philosophy. Expanding on Bennett et al (1974), a number of new morphometric parameters, and a variety of ratios derived from them, are described and used in this present study, with a view to establishing these criteria for all species of leucocytozoids.…”

“…All the experimental evidence indicates that the leucocytozoids, as with the haemoproteids (Bennett and Peirce, 1988) are host family/host subfamily-specific. Sacchi and Prigione (1985) re-described Leucocytozoon macleani of the Phasianinae, using the protocols of Bennett et al (1974), who first utilized criteria such as area of the parasite, parasite nucleus and host-parasite complex, as morphological criteria for species diagnosis. Valkiunas (1989) gave descriptions, some measurements and drawings of a number of the leucocytozoids from the Galliformes but failed to use the criteria utilized by Sacchi and Prigione (1985), although citing their paper.…”

“…Fourteen of these 21 species were described in the first three decades of this century and no-one has compared any of the species or proposed any synonymies. In this present study, using new morphological criteria derived from the work of Bennett et al (1974), the 21 species of Leucocytozoon described from the Phasianidae sensu lato are compared, re-described, synonyms listed and neohapantotype slides designated where appropriate.…”