title: Two Plasmodium species of the crocodile skink Tribolonotus gracilis from Irian Jaya, Indonesia.
abstract: Two undescribed Plasmodium species were present in 1 of 8 New Guinea skinks, Tribolonotus gracilis. Plasmodium tribolonoti n. sp. is characterized by rounded or oblong schizonts 6.1 x 5.3 microm (5-7 x 4-7) that produce on average 14.3 merozoites (10-21), in no particular arrangement of nuclei. All parasitized proerythrocytes and had no effect upon dimensions of host cells or their nuclei. Gametocytes, mostly erythrocytic, averaged 7.2 x 6.3 (6.5-9.0 x 5.5-7.5), with length x width (LW) 45.5 microm2 (38-63) and L/W 1.15 (1.0-1.5). Gametocytes are not sexually dimorphic in size or shape and had no effect upon dimensions of host erythrocytes or their nuclei. Schizonts of P. gracilis n. sp. averaged 4.3 x 3.5 (3-6 x 3-5), with 4.9 merozoites (3-8) usually arranged as a fan, and had no effect upon dimensions of host erythrocytes or their nuclei. Gametocytes averaged 5.9 x 5.5 (5.0-6.6 x 5.0-6.0), with LW 31.9 microm2 (25-40) and L/W 1.06 (1.0-1.2). Gametocytes are not sexually dimorphic in size or shape and had no effect upon dimensions of host erythrocytes or their nuclei.
authors.affiliation: The Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA. afn52007@afn.org
authors.forename: Sam R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.forename: James F X
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wellehan
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015995:Prevalence