Hepatozoon species of the timber rattlesnake in northern Florida: description of a new species, evidence of salivary gland oocysts, and a natural cross-familial transmission of an Hepatozoon species.
Two species of Hepatozoon, i.e., H. sauritus and H. horridus n. sp., were present in 1 of 8 timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus. The narrow gamonts of H. sauritus are 15.0-19.0 x 3.5-5.0 microm, with LW 58-86 microm2 and L/W 3.2-4.7, with a narrow, rounded anterior end. The spherical to slightly ovoid oocysts produce ovoid to elongate sporocysts, 21-43 x 12-24 microm, L/W 1.20-2.7, containing on average 22.1 (10-34) sporozoites. This is the first report of a natural cross-familial transfer of a Hepatozoon species. Gamonts of H. horridus n. sp. are 13.0-17.0 x 4.0-6.0 microm, with LW 63-102 microm2 and L/W 2.6-4.0, and have broadly rounded ends. The gamont cytoplasm is vacuolated. The spherical to ovoid oocysts form spherical to elongate sporocysts 14-45 x 11-25 microm, L/W 1.0-2.3, producing an average of 13.0 (8-21) sporozoites. The salivary gland in 1 of 5 mosquitoes dissected contained 1 mature oocyst.
The Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
Sam R
SR
Telford
Paul E
PE
Moler
J F
JF
Butler
D000330:Aedes / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D017839:Crotalus / Q000469:parasitology*; D016783:Eucoccidiida / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005431:Florida; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology