Light and transmission electron microscopic characteristics of a novel Hepatozoon spp. in naturally infected cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus)

Abstract

A novel species of Hepatozoon was recently reported in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) collected from an area of Oklahoma where American canine hepatozoonosis is endemic. In this study, the various stages of merogony of the parasite were characterized by light and electron microscopy. Meronts occurred within parasitophorous vacuoles in hepatocytes and ranged from mononucleated spherical forms to large, mature forms in vacuoles that contained approximately 50 peripherally arranged merozoites. Developing merozoites had characteristic apicomplexan organelles, including anterior and posterior polar rings, a conoid, microtubules, rhoptries, micronemes, and a trilaminar membrane. As the meronts matured, numerous curvilinear merozoites budded from a residual body. This morphologic characterization extends our understanding of this novel Hepatozoon and adds information about the hepatozoa, apicomplexan parasites that infect numerous species.

Effect of the intensity of Hepatozoon gracilis parasitaemia on some biological aspects of Culex (Culex) pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Hepatozoon have been described in many groups of terrestrial vertebrate and are especially prevalent in rodents and many families of carnivores (Smith, 1996). Numerous species of Hepatozoon have been reported to encompass a broad range of clinical disease in both wild and domestic animals (Rubini et al, 2006, Johnson et al, 2007, Breshears et al, 2009. The clinical syndrome resulted from Hepatozoon infection is known as hepatozoonosis.…”

Hepatozoon milleri sp. nov. (Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) in Akodon montensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from southeastern Brazil

“…The earliest meronts were similar in size and appearance to immature meronts that have been previously described in small rodents infected with Hepatozoon spp. (Miller, 1908; Carini, 1910; Johnson et al ., 2007; Breshears et al ., 2009). On the other hand, the morphology and size range of mature meronts, detected in Brazilian wild rodents, are not consistent with previous descriptions of developed meronts in rodents from other regions.…”

“…Unfortunately, Carini and Maciel (1915) did not observe tissue meronts of H. akodoni in the rodent organs. Johnson et al (2007) and Breshears et al (2009) studied Hepatozoon sp. in Sigmodon hispidus in the USA.…”

Cotton Rat

“…Nematode infections include Hepatozoon spp. (Breshears et al, 2009;Johnson et al, 2007Johnson et al, , 2008, Hypocristata terctercera (Durette-Desset and Guerrero, 2006), Strongyloides sp. (Elangbam, 1990), and Trichinella spiralis (Holliman and Meade, 1980).…”