Nycteria medusfiformis Garnham and Heisch, 1953: a malaria parasite of the Egyptian insectivorous rat, taphozouz perforatus

ABSTRACT

A malarian parasite belonging to the genus Nycteria was observed for the first time in the erythrocytes and liver parenchyma cells of the Egyptian insectivorous bat, Taphozous perforatus, Young and mature gametocytes were demonstrated in the erythrocytes. Both sexes of the gametocytes are similar in size, but the microgametocytes differ from the macrogametocytes in having filaments or flagella protruding onto the surface of infected host cells. The compact immature schizonts are spherical or oval with granular cytoplasm and several large nuclei. Growing schizonts have irregular outline, while mature schizonts possess surface indentations and lobulated contour. Comparison between this and the other malaria parasites found in bats confirms its identity to Nycteria medusiformis