The Fine Structure of the Sporozoite of Lankesteria culicis

SYNOPSIS. The sporozoite of Lankesteria culicis was studied by light and electron microscopy, after excystation in the intestine of Aedes aegypti 1st stage larvae. The sporozoite was 9.5–10.0 μ long with a blunt anterior end and a tapered posterior region. The organism was enclosed by a typical pellicle consisting of an outer and an inner membrane with underlying subpellicular microtubules. The anterior end had a conoid with 2 associated rings, a polar ring which served as a termination of the subpellicular microtubules and a flask-shaped structure situated internal and posterior to the conoid. A micropyle consisting of a collar formed from the inner membrane and lacking an invagination of the outer membrane was present near the anterior end of the parasite. The nucleus was centrally located and had a peripheral concentration of chromatin and a central nucleolus. One or more mitochondria were observed in the vicinity of the nucleus.