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Gametogenesis and Sporogony of Hepatozoon Mocassini (Apicomplexa: Adeleina: Hepatozoidae) In an Experimental Mosquito Host, Aedes Aegypti
Author(s) -
LOWICHIK AMY,
LANNERS H. NORBERT,
LOWRIE ROBERT C.,
MEINERS NORWOOD E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1993.tb04918.x
Subject(s) - biology , hepatozoon , apicomplexa , host (biology) , gametogenesis , zoology , aedes aegypti , plasmodium (life cycle) , parasite hosting , virology , ecology , malaria , protozoal disease , larva , fishery , immunology , babesia , embryo , world wide web , computer science , cryopreservation
. The sexual life cycle of the hemogregarine Hepatozoon mocassini was studied in Aedes aegypti , an experimental mosquito host, using transmission electron microscopy. Gamonts were observed leaving the host snake erythrocyte as early as 30 min after mosquitoes ingested infected blood, and some gamonts had penetrated the gut epithelial cells by this time. Six hours post‐feeding, gamonts were identified within cells of the abdominal fat body. Twenty‐four hours post‐feeding, gamonts were often entrapped within the peritrophic membrane, but were no longer observed within the gut wall. Parasites pairing up in syzygy and undergoing sexual differentiatioe were observed within fat cells at this time, and by 48 hours post‐feeding, well‐developed macro‐ and microgametocytes as well as microgametes were discernible. Developing zygotes observed 3 days post‐feeding were enclosed within a panoitophorous vacuole. By day 6, multinucleate oocysts with crystalloid bodies in the cytoplasm were seen. Sporazoites developing within sporocysts appeared by day 12. Seventeen days post‐feeding, mature oocysts with sporocysts containing approximately 16 sporozoites were observed upon dissection of mosquitoes. Large crystalloid bodies no longer bound by rough endopbsmic reticulum were located anterior and posterior to the sporozoite nucleus. Free sporozoites were not observed.