A new species of Isospora (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the greenfinch Carduelis chloris (Passeriformes: Fringillidae).

A new species of isosporan (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is reported from the greenfinch, Carduelis chloris (Passeriformes: Fringillidae), in England. Oocysts of Isospora daszaki n.sp. are spherical to subspherical, 18.8 × 20.3 (16.8-22.4 × 16.8-25.2) µm, with a shape index (length/width) of 1.08 (1.07-1.1). Micropyle, polar granules and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are 9.4 × 14.8 (8.4-11.2 × 12.6-18.2) µm, a shape index of 1.6, with Stieda and substieda bodies. Gamogony was seen in the ileum, and merozoites were present in blood lymphocytes.

Five new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Madagascan chameleons (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae).

Coprological examination of 19 Madagascan chameleons of the genera Furcifer and Brookesia revealed the presence of five new coccidian species. Isospora brygooi n. sp. from Furcifer pardalis has spherical to subspherical oöcysts with a slightly pitted wall, 20.7 (17-24.5) x 19.3 (16-23) microm and broadly ellipsoidal sporocysts, 12.2 (11.5-13) x 8.1 (8-8.5) microm, with Stieda and substieda bodies. Oöcysts of Eimeria glawi n. sp. from Furcifer pardalis are cylindrical to ellipsoidal, 27.7 (26-29.5) x 18.4 (17-19) microm, with ellipsoidal sporocysts, 7.3 (6.5-8) x 5.2 (5-5.5) microm. E. vencesi n. sp. described from F. pardalis has spherical to subspherical oöcysts, 14.3 (13-15.5) x 13.0 (12-13) microm, with small granules, one to three globular polar granules and ellipsoidal sporocysts, 7.3 (6.5-8) x 5.2 (5-5.5) microm. E. worthi n. sp., described from Furcifer oustaleti has spherical oöcysts, 17.9 (17.5-19.0) x 15.0 (14.5-16.0) microm without a polar granule and ellipsoidal to cylindroidal sporocysts, 8.2 (7.0-9.5) x 5.8 (5.0-6.5) microm. Oöcysts of E. brookesiae n. sp. from Brookesia decaryi are cylindrical, 25.6 (23-27) x 15.0 (13-16) microm with ellipsoidal sporocysts, 10.1 (9-11) x 6.9 (6-7) microm. Endogenous development of E. vencesi is confined to the intestine, while that of E. glawi occurs in the gall-bladder.

A description of two new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from African reptiles with nomenclatural corrections for two Caryospora and one Eimeria species from snakes.

Two new species of coccidian parasites are described from African reptiles. Oocysts of Eimeria foulshami sp. n. from the plated lizard Gerrhosaurus major bottegoi Del Prato of Sudan are ellipsoidal, 24.1 x 14.9 (23-26.5 x 14-17.8) microm with a bilayered, colourless oocyst wall and lack polar granules. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 8.6 x 4.6 (7-10.6 x 4.4-7) microm and possess a prominent, globular, sporocyst residuum. Oocysts of Caryospora regentensis sp. n. from the Eastern green mamba Dendroaspis augusticeps Smith, 1849 [corrected] of Kenya are spherical to subspherical, 16.8 x 16.4 (16-17.6 x 15-17.2) microm with a bilayered oocyst wall and a single polar granule. The ellipsoidal sporocysts average 13.0 x 10.3 (10.2-14 x 9.2-11) microm and possess a Stieda and substieda body and a prominent globular sporocyst residuum. Oocysts of Caryospora legeri Hoare, 1933 are reported from a hissing sand snake, Psammophis sibilans sibilans L. from Nigeria, representing a new geographical record. The oocysts are slightly larger than the type, but otherwise identical. Caryospora psammophi Bray, 1960 and C. hermae Bray, 1960 from Psammophis sibilans phillipsi, oocysts of which are morphologically similar to and overlap in dimensions with C. legeri Hoare, 1933, are synonymised with the latter species. Eimeria samiae Iskander et Tadros, 1979 is emended to E. samyadeli to reflect the gender of the person the species was named after and because E. sani is preoccupied. In addition to these findings, Eimeria bohemi Modrý, Slapeta et Koudela, 2000 and oocysts of an unidentified spherical Eimieria sp. are reported from Chamaeleo dilepis dilepis Leach from Cameroon.

The genetic contribution of single male immigrants to small, inbred populations: a laboratory study using Drosophila melanogaster.

This study examined the genetic contribution of single male immigrants to small, inbred laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetic contribution was assessed by measuring the relative frequency of immigrant marker alleles in the first and second generations after immigration, while controlling for any selection effects at the marker locus, and for the experience of male immigrants. When immigrants were outbred, the mean frequency of the immigrant allele was significantly higher than its initial frequency, in both the first and second generations after immigration. There was no significant change in allele frequency for populations receiving inbred immigrants. The increase in allele frequency for outbred immigrants was attributed to an initial outbred vigour fitness advantage of immigrant males over resident males experiencing inbreeding depression. Hybrid vigour of immigrant progeny and the rare-male effect did not have a statistically significant role in the fitness advantage of the immigrant allele. The results suggest that inbreeding may have a considerable impact on the contribution of immigrants to the genetic diversity of populations.

Atoxoplasma (Apicomplexa: Eimeriorina: Atoxoplasmatidae) in the greenfinch (Carduelis chloris).

Merozoites of an Atoxoplasma species were present within parasitophorous vacuoles in the cytoplasm of leucocytes in the blood vessels in the small intestine of the greenfinch (Carduelis chloris). The merozoites indented the nucleus of the leucocytes. Merozoites, macrogametes, and microgamonts were present in the epithelial cells of the intestines. No merogony was observed. Experiments provided circumstantial evidence linking disporocystid-octozoic oocysts with the blood and intestinal infections.

Description of the oocysts of three new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from iguanid lizards (Sauria: Iguanidae) of Central and South America.

Three new species of Eimeria are described from iguanid lizards of Central and South America. The oocysts of each species have no micropyles or residua and the sporocysts lack Stieda bodies, but all have a sporocyst residuum. Eimeria sanctaluciae n.sp. was found in the St. Lucia tree lizard, Anolis luciae, collected from the Maria Islands, Lesser Antilles. The oocysts are spherical to subspherical, averaging 17.3 x 16.5 microns, with a single layered colourless wall; about 60% contain polar granules. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 7.7 x 5.5 microns. Eimeria liolaemi n.sp. was recovered from the blue-gold swift, Liolaemus taenius, from Chile. The oocysts are spherical to subspherical, measuring 21 x 20.1 microns with a single-layered colourless wall. The sporocysts are subspherical and average 7.4 x 6.8 microns. Eimeria caesicia n.sp. is described from the Brazilian collared iguanid, Tropidurus torquatus. The oocysts measure 27.4 x 23.7 microns, are spherical to subspherical, with a bilayered wall, the outer surface of which appears pale blue in colour, the thin, inner wall appearing brown, when viewed by direct light under the optical microscope. The sporocysts are subspherical and average 9.4 x 7.2 microns. Unnamed polysporocystid oocysts with dizoic sporocysts are reported from the faeces of the lesser St. Vincent tree lizard, Anolis trinitatis and the possibility of spurious parasitism briefly discussed. In addition, oocysts of an unnamed Isospora sp. with a smooth oocyst wall which closely resembles I. reui were recovered from A. trinitatis.

Description of the oocysts of three new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from iguanid lizards (Sauria: Iguanidae) of Central and South America

Three new species of Eimeria are described from iguanid lizards of Central and South America. The oocysts of each species have no micropyles or residua and the sporocysts lack Stieda bodies, but all have a sporocyst residuum. Eimeria sanctaluciae n. sp. was found in the St. Lucia tree lizard, Anolis luciae, collected from the Maria Islands, Lesser Antilles. The oocysts are spherical to subspherical, averaging 17.3 x 16.5 µm, with a single layered colourless wall; about 60 per cent contain polar granules. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 7.7 x 5.5 µm. Eimeria liolaemi s. np. was recovered from the blue-gold swift, Liolaemus taenius from Chile. The oocysts are spherical to subspherical, measuring 21 x 20.1 µm with a single-layered colourless wall. The sporocysts are subspherical and average 7.4 x 6.8 µm. Eimeria caesicia n. sp. is described from the Brazilian collared iguanid, Tropidurus torquatus. The oocysts measure 27.4 x 23.7 µm, are spherical to subspherical, with a bilayered wall, the outer surface of which appears pale blue in colour, the thin, inner wall appearing brown, when viewed by direct light under the optical microscope. The sporocysts are subspherical and average 9.4 x 7.2 µm. Unamed polysporocystid oocysts with dizoic sporocysts are reported from the faeces of the lesser St. Vincent tree lizard, Anolis trinitatis and the possibility of spurious parasitism briefly discussed. In addition, oocysts of an unnamed Isospora sp. with a smooth oocyst wall which closely resembles I. reui were recovered from A. trinitatis.

Ultrastructural observations on the third-generation merozoites of Eimeria tenella in chicks.

The fine structure of the third-generation merozoites of Eimeria tenella is described from caecal enterocytes of chicks 120 h after experimental infections. The merozoites conformed to the general eimerian pattern except that they were bounded by two unit membranes. Young gamonts also conformed to the general eimerian pattern, and were limited by an outer unit membrane and an interrupted inner membrane. Enterocytes invaded by third-generation merozoites showed a loss of microvilli and large blebs that protruded into the caecal lumen. These blebs appeared to contain only cytoplasm and not any cell organelles.

Linking the parts: an exemplar of philosophical and practical issues in holistic nursing.

This paper offers an analysis of some of the challenges of holism, particularly the challenges relating to co-operation and role indeterminacy. It uses the work of one group of nurses (specialist paediatric oncology nurses) to exemplify these issues, and it draws upon some empirical research into their work. These nurses work to provide a link between hospital and home for families with children with cancer, but it is suggested that the fundamental issues they face, (a) in linking the parts of the system, and (b) in linking the parts of care as it is experienced, are shared by anyone who subscribes to the holistic nursing. Issue (a) raises questions of professional boundary crossing, and calls upon diplomatic and micro-political skills. Issue (b) raises questions about the boundaries of health care, and calls upon skills of 'translation' and emotional labour. The value of holism is not questioned but the paper illustrates how aiming for holistic care inevitably opens up philosophical and practical problems and concerns.

Ultrastructural observations on caecal epithelial cells invaded by first-generation merozoites of Eimeria tenella in vivo.

Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the effects of invasion of caecal epithelial cells by first-generation merozoites of Eimeria tenella. At 53 h post-infection, merozoites were found within mature meronts and in enterocytes of the crypt epithelium. Following merozoite invasion, the terminal web of microfilaments of the invaded cell was disrupted and cell extensions were present on the enterocyte surface. There was a marked morphological alteration of the host cell resulting in loss of microvilli and extensive bulging of cytoplasm into the crypt lumen. Multiple invasion of enterocytes and invasion of goblet cells were observed. Large numbers of mast cells infiltrated the mucosa, identified by the metachromatic staining of their granules, and were found within the lamina propria, epithelium and lumen. Merozoites were found within mast cells and lymphocytes within the lumen.

Intestinal absorption of glycylproline in chicks infected with Eimeria acervulina.

The absorption of glycine and proline through the mid-intestines of chicks infected with Eimeria acervulina was impaired when the amino acids were presented to the mucosal surface as the dipeptide, glycylproline.

Ultrastructural studies of the effects of the ionophore lasalocid on Eimeria tenella in chickens.

The ultrastructural development of Eimeria tenella was studied in experimentally infected chicks fed 90 ppm lasalocid, an ionophorous anticoccidial antibiotic. Drug treatment was timed to target-specific endogenous stages. At 6 h after infection, many sporozoites within the epithelium showed degradation as a result of drug action. Only a few intact sporozoites were seen. The drug caused outer-membrane blistering, large surface swellings and enlarged mitochondria in both first- and second-generation merozoites. No effect on the gamonts was discerned.

Effect of lasalocid on the development of Eimeria tenella in chicken embryos.

Sporozoites of Eimeria tenella were treated with lasalocid in vitro and their viability tested by inoculating them into the allantoic cavity of 11-day-old chicken embryos. Concentrations of 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 micrograms ml-1 reduced sporozoite viability, as judged by oocyst production. Injections into the embryos of 5, 50 or 500 micrograms of lasalocid 92-93 h after infection also reduced oocyst production, indicating activity against the later stages of the life cycle.

Transfer of extraintestinal stages of Eimeria vermiformis in the mouse.

The oral administration of whole blood and liver or lung homogenates from mice donors inoculated 1-3 days previously with Eimeria vermiformis oocysts produced infection in coccidia-free recipient mice.

Ultrastructural observations of microgametogenesis in Eimeria bakuensis (Syn. E. ovina) of sheep.

The ultrastructure of microgametogenesis of Eimeria bakuensis was studied in the intestinal epithelium of an experimentally infected sheep. During development the nuclei became situated peripherally in the microgamont. Nuclear chromatin condensed into peripheral, dense portions that became the nuclei of the microgametes. The young microgamont was surrounded by a very narrow parasitophorous vacuole which widened during development and contained a few intravacuolar folds. Fissures and invaginations developed in the microgamont at the time the flagella began to grow. Polysaccharide granules were not present in the early and intermediate microgamonts but increased in number during the later stages and remained in the residual cytoplasm of the mature stage.