Effect of photoperiod on the diurnal periodicity of Leucocytozoon smithi gametocytes in the peripheral blood of domestic turkeys.
The daily cyclical variation in Leucocytozoon smithi gametocyte numbers in the peripheral blood of domestic turkeys was shifted 12-hr. by exposure of hosts to a reversed photoperiod. Peak parasitemia coincided with the midpoint of the artificial light period (0100 hr.), while low parasitemia occurred between 1300 hr. and 1700 hr. Disruption of strict gametocyte periodicity was suggested by results of birds exposed to light varying in intensity from 700 lux during the day to 161 lux at night although marked fluctuations in gametocyte numbers occurred.
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000502:physiology*; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal; D014422:Turkeys