The development of Hepatozoon sipedon sp. nov. (Apicomplexa: Adeleina: Hepatozoidae) in its natural host, the Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), in the culicine vectors Culex pipiens and C. territans, and in an intermediate host, the Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens).
The life cycle of Hepatozoon sipedon sp. nov. was studied in two snake species, the Northern water snake and the Eastern garter snake, in its mosquito hosts Culex pipiens and C. territans, and in the Northern leopard frog. Gametogenesis, fertilization and sporogony occurred within fat body cells in the haemocoel of mosquitoes that had fed on infected water snakes. Mature oocysts averaging 263 microns in diameter and containing more than 500 sporocysts were observed in mosquitoes 28 days post-feeding. Each sporocyst enclosed eight sporozoites. Dizoic cysts were found in the liver of frogs that had been fed infected mosquitoes seven days previously. Two rounds of merogony in various internal organs and intraerythrocytic gamonts were observed in snakes that had been fed frogs which had been orally inoculated with infected mosquitoes. Developmental stages were not seen in snakes that were fed infected mosquitoes directly. A comparison of this life cycle with those described for other Hepatozoon species infecting snakes is presented with reference to the different modes of transmission featured by these parasites.
Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Smith
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Desser
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Martin
D000818:Animals; D017812:Colubridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D003465:Culex / Q000469:parasitology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D016783:Eucoccidiida / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D011894:Rana pipiens / Q000469:parasitology*