Description of the gamonts of a small species of Hepatozoon sp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) found in Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes, Viperidae).
A small species of the genus Hepatozoon found in a specimen of Crotalus durissus terrificus from the Botucatu region, São Paulo State, Brazil is described. The morphologic alterations induced in the snake's erythrocytes by the presence of this parasite are described. Morphology and morphometric analyses were performed using the Qwin Lite 2.5 computerized image analysis system (Leica). The Hepatozoon possessed a small and short body (8.1+/-0.5 microm long and 3.8+/-0.4 microm wide), with round extremities. The cytoplasm varied from pale blue to basophilic and had no granulations. Its nucleus was large, occupied a large area of the cytoplasm, and was irregular in shape and not condensed. Despite its small size, this parasite induced important changes in the host cell. Total parasitemia observed was 56.6%.
O'Dwyer
Lucia Helena
LH
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Júnior, Botucatu, CEP 18618-000, São Paulo, Brazil. odwyer@ibb.unesp.br
Moço
Tatiana Cristina
TC
da Silva
Reinaldo José
RJ
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001938:Brazil; D017839:Crotalus / Q000469:parasitology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology