Light and transmission electron microscopic studies of a haemogregarine in naturally infected fan-footed gecko (Ptyodactylus hasselquistii)

Abstract

The present study focuses on and describes the developmental stages of a haemogregarine species in the blood and tissues of the gecko Ptyodactylus hasselquistii. The blood stages were differentiated into two forms: a short gamont measuring 11.87 x 6.42 microm and a banana-shaped mature gamont measuring 14.13 x 10.03 microm in length and width, respectively. Both erythrocytes and leucocytes had been invaded. The parasitaemia level is up to 410 per 10,000 erythrocytes counted. The gamont has a karyolytic effect on the host cell nucleus. Merogony occurred in the parenchyma cells of liver and the endothelial cells of the lung. The meronts in the lung were found in two forms: the micromeront measured 14.93x13.14 microm and produced a few numbers (average 4) of macromerozoites. The macromeront measured 26.3 x 16 microm and produced more small-sized merozoites (average 11.5), or micromerozoites. On the ultrastructural level, merozoites have a pellicle, which consists of an outer and inner membrane. The merozoites are nearly identical to the blood stages of the parasite.

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

“…has been described from the liver of many vertebrate hosts, including rodents (Hoogstraal 1961;Obayashi 1971), frogs (Desser et al 1995), lizards (Hussein 2006), and snakes (Smith and Desser 1998). Hepatocytes (Desser et al 1995;Hoogstraal 1961;Hussein 2006;Obayashi 1971), endothelial cells (Smith and Desser 1998), and phagocytic cells of the reticuloendothelial system (Lainson et al 2003) have been identified as host cells in these studies. In rodents, merogony commonly occurs in the lung (Laakkonen et al 2001;Simpson et al 2006).…”

A Description of Haemogregarina Species Naturally Infecting White-Spotted Gecko (Tarentola Annularis) in Qena, Egypt

“…The parasitaemia level of haemogregarines infecting Mabuya (M.) quinquetaeniata was 1%-8% and in some cases 40%-50% of the erythrocytes (Bashtar et al, 1987). While in P. hasselquistii infected with haemogregarine (Karyolysus) was up to 410/10,000 counted erythrocytes (Hussein, 2006). The parasitaemia level was 200-400/1000 erythrocytes of haemogregarines infecting Cerastes c. gasperitti (Al-Farraj, 2008).…”

“…Haemogregarines infecting T. annularis were studied by many authors (El-Naffar et al, 1991;Ramadan et al,1995;Saoud et al,1995;Mohammed and Ramadan, 1996;Rabie et al, 2006;Abd-Al Aal et al, 2009). Haemogregarina species infecting the geckoes P. hasselquistii were also studied (Abdel-Ghaffar et al, 1994;Saoud et al, 1995;Hussein, 2006). Martínez-de La Puente and Merino (2008) supported the hypotheses proposed that the multiple invasions being due to higher parasite densities.…”

Mini-Review: Factors Affecting Multiple Invasions of Erythrocytes in Plasmodium and other Malaria-like Parasites. A Neglected Characteristic of Infections

“…MIs are also produced by other malaria-like haemospororins including Haemoproteus [6,7,8] and Leucocytozoon species [5] infecting birds and reptiles. Also, reports of MIs by other blood parasites with intraerythrocytic stages, such as Hepatozoon [9,10,11], Babesia [12,13] and Karyolysus [14] exist in parasitological literature.…”