Plasmodium neusticuri n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Plasmodiidae), a parasite of the lizard Neusticurus bicarinatus (Lacertilia: Teiidae) in Amazonian Brazil

ABSTRACT

Plasmodium neusticuri n.sp. (Apicomplexa Plasmodiidae) is described in the blood of the lizard Neusticurus bicarinatus (Lacertilia Teiidae) from Amazonian Brazil. All stages of the parasite occupy a polar position in the erythrocyte and produce no enlargement of the host cell and little or no distortion of its nucleus. Trophozoites commonly display a variable number of long filopodia, and quickly produce a small number of dark, yellow-green pigment granules. Meronts are smaller than the host-cell nucleus. They are broadly ellipsoidal to spherical, produce 4-8 (usually 6) merozoites disposed in an irregular manner, and have some 5-10 pigment granules forming a loose clump. Macrogametocytes and microgametocytes are broadly ellipsoidal, frequently "kidney-shaped", rarely spherical.They are generally smaller than the host-cell nucleus, averaging 5.8 x 4.1 mum and 5.8 x 4.4 mum, respectively. Both usually exhibit a conspicuous cytoplasmic vacuole, and their pigment granules are more abundant and scattered than those of the meronts. Rare examples of extraerythrocytic meronts were encountered in monocytes. The vector of the parasite is at present unknown.