title: Ultrastructure of Babesia bigemina gametes obtained in "in vitro" erythrocyte cultures.
abstract: Propagation of Babesia bigemina in "in vitro" erythrocyte cultures resulted in the appearance of the sexual stage of the parasite, characterized by cytoplasmic projections and microtubules. These morphologically distinct parasites were found to adhere to each other, with later fusion of their membranes. No nuclear fusion was observed. The ultrastructure of the sexual stages was described.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas-Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. muciobr@icb.ufmg.br
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Patarroyo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000502:physiology*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology; D002417:Cattle; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*