A New Saurian Malaria Parasite Plasmodium clelandi sp. n. from Ceylon*

Plasmodium clelandi sp. n. is described from Varanus cepedianus of Mannar District, Ceylon. The earliest asexual stages were seen as a chromatin dot. Trophozoites have a vacuole with chromatin material spread around its periphery. The trophozoites divide and mature to form the schizont. The maximum number of merozoites observed in a schizont was 8. Pigment was scanty and sometimes absent. The gametocytes had a characteristic elongate form and tend to encircle the host cell nucleus.     

Plasmodium hegneri n. sp. from the European Teal Anas c. crecca in Taiwan*

SYNOPSIS. Plasmodium hegneri n. sp. is described from the European teal duck, Anas c. crecca, from Taiwan. The blood stages, so far the only ones seen, are distinguished mainly by the elongate character of the gametocytes, which closely resemble Haemoproteus (though the pigment tends to be finer and less abundant), and the failure of both asexual and sexual forms to displace the nucleus or otherwise alter the host cell. Merozoites average 13.4 ± 2.2 (range 10–19) per segmenter. Trophozoites often adhere to the host cell nucleus, and may have a large vacuole and a remarkable long, slender pseudopodium. The species so far has been seen only in the European teal, although blood films from 194 species and over 1200 birds have been examined.     

Plasmodium pessoai sp. n. from two Costa Rican snakes

A unique malaria parasite species was found in 1/1 Spilotes pullatus (Colubridae) and 1/70 Lachesis muta (Crotalidae) from the moist Atlantic lowland forests of eastern Costa Rica. It is distinguished by small, sausage-shaped gametocytes (x 10.4 by 4.6 mu), growing schizonts that often contain a noticeable digestive vacuole with the contents partially visible, and striking spherical or bouquet-shaped segmenters whose precise merozoite numbers are difficult to discern (about 22-32) because of an intensely staining magenta or rose-colored substance in the matrix of the surrounding vacuole.     

Trypanosoma pifanoi n. sp. from Colombian Bats*

SYNOPSIS. A new large trypanosome was found in the blood of 19 Artibeus lituratus and 2 Phyllostomus hastatus bats. The monomorphic trypanosome resembles Trypanosoma megadermae in some respects, but differs from it in that it is larger and has a short flagellum, both extremities are very tapered, the kinetoplast is very close to a small nucleus and there is a greater distance between the kinetoplast and the posterior extremity of the body. In diphasic blood-agar cultures there is a great variety of odd multiplication forms not described from other trypanosome cultures, but some simulate T. cruzi. This trypanosome is not capable of infecting mice, tissue culture cells, Carollia perspicillata bats, or triatomids, but is able to infect A. lituratus bats. Culture forms of the trypanosome inoculated intra-coelomically are pathogenic for several species of triatomids, and multiply in the hemolymph of Rhodnius prolizus, often producing forms similar to crithidiae of T. rangeli. Culture forms of the trypanosome seem to have common antigens with T. cruzi. This new species is described as Trypanosoma pifanoi.     

Eimeria eumopos n. sp. from a Colombian Bat Eumops trumbulli*

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria eumopos n. sp. (Coccidiida, Eimeriidae) from a Colombian bat Eumops trumbulli (Chiroptera, Molossidae) is described. This is the first recorded coccidium in a bat from the western hemisphere, and the sixth bat coccidium species described to date. The unsporulated oocysts in the bat feces are 30.9–24.0 by 28.9–23.2 μ (near 28.8 × 26.1 μ). Their outstanding feature is the pronounced pitting of the thick brownish oocyst wall.     

Plasmodium sasai n. sp. from the Japanese Lizard Takydromus tachydromoides

SYNOPSIS. This is the 1st reptilian Plasmodium to be described from eastern Asia. It is apparently of limited geographic distribution. Experimental infections may result in the production of more parasites than red cells in the circulating blood. A single erythrocyte may be infected by as many as 11 parasites. Despite the heavy parasitemia and destruction of erythrocytes, the hosts are apparently not affected by the infection. Mature schizonts are frequently fan-shaped; they produce 7–17 merozoites. The asexual cycle has a high degree of synchrony.     

Plasmodium (Huffia) hermani sp. n. from wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Florida*

SYNOPSIS. Plasmodium (Huffia) hermani sp. n. is described from wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo Linnaeus) in Florida. It produces rounded schizonts with 6–14 nuclei arranged peripherally as a rosette and elongate, slender gametocytes with irregular margins. Asexual stages parasitize all cells in the erythrocyte series and, in heavy infections, predominantly occur in erythroblasts and their precursors. Presence and degree of pigmentation vary with maturity of the host cell. Gametocytes occupy erythrocytes only, with pigment dispersed in black granules throughout the cytoplasm. Cells containing schizonts are often rounded and enlarged and those parasitized by gametocytes may be somewhat distorted in shape by lateral hypertrophy. Host cell nuclei may be displaced, but are not distorted, except slightly by pressure from the parasite. Plasmodium hermani differs from P. (Giovannolaia) durae by producing low level (> 6%), nonlethal parasitemias in turkey poults, an absence of phanerozoites in capillary endothelium of the brain and viscera, and inability to infect chicks. Plasmodium hermani is more like P. (Huffia) elongatum in gametocyte morphology, schizogony in all types of erythrocyte precursors, with gametocytes occurring in erythrocytes only, and concentration of schizonts in heavy infections in bone marrow and spleen. It differs from P. elongatum by its lack of infectivity to passeriform and anseriform hosts and by a strong immune response which develops in infected birds.     

Plasmodium octamerium n. sp., an Avian Malaria Parasite from the Pintail Whydah Bird Vidua macroura*

SYNOPSIS. A new species of avian malaria parasite is described from the pintail whydah Vidua macroura, a very small African finch of the weaver bird family (Ploceidae). Its structure has been studied chiefly in the canary, to which it is easily transmissible by blood inoculation. Since the segmenters most often produce 8 merozoites, the name Plasmodium octamerium n. sp. is proposed. Other characteristics include sexual stages which are usually elongate, often slender, and do not displace the host cell nucleus, and gametocytes indistinguishable from those of many species of Haemoproteus. Erythrocytes are the only blood cells parasitized. The new species resembles Plasmodium fallax in many respects, but gives rise to fewer merozoites and the asexual forms are smaller. Blood-induced infections are also of strikingly different type in some host species. Among susceptible host species are several kinds of finches, pigeons, quail, young chicks, chukars, tree and song sparrows. In most of these hosts infections are mild, but some tree sparrows die as the result of blood infection, and chukars usually die because of massive invasion of the capillary endothelium of the brain by exoerythrocytic forms. These are of the gallinaceum type and may be quite large, producing hundreds of merozoites. Exoerythrocytic stages were sought but not found in other host species.     

Proleptonchoides southindiae n. gen., n. sp., a New Leptonchoid from South India

Proleptonchoides southindiae n. gen., n. sp. (Dorylaimida: Leptonchidae), is described from soil around false tobacco (Lobelia excelsa) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomurn) in South India. P. southindiae is prodelphic, has a short constricted esophageal bulb and flanged odontophore, and is phylogenetically close to Proleptonchus.     

Taxonomy Acanthamoeba royreba sp. n. from a Human Tumor Cell Culture*

SYNOPSIS. A new species of Acanthamoeba was isolated from a culture of an established line of human choriocarcinoma cells. The identification of this strain, originally called the Oak Ridge strain, and the establishment of a new species for it were based on morphologic, serologic, and immunochemical studies. In general, the structure of the trophozoite did not differ significantly from that of other species of Acanthamoeba, except that a body which more closely resembled a centriole than material described previously as centriolar satellites was observed in trophozoites examined with the electron microscope. The dimensions of the trophozoite were the smallest among the species of Acanthamoeba. The cyst was typical of the genus, but differed from those of other species by its smaller size and the presence of numerous ostioles. Studies of the Oak Ridge strain by immunofluorescence using antisera developed against the isolate and Acanthamoeba culbertsoni, A. castellanii, A. polyphaga, A. rhysodes, A. astronyxis, and A. palestinensis revealed the antigenic uniqueness of the Oak Ridge strain. It was demonstrated by immunoelectrophoretic analyses of the soluble proteins of the Oak Ridge strain that it shared ～ 1/2 of its antigenic structure with A. castellanii and A. culbertsoni. The antigenic differences of the isolate from other species of Acanthamoeba were deduced from comparison of the antigenic constitution of these species and the Oak Ridge strain with A. culbertsoni and A. castellanii. Although the strain was initially recognized by its cytopathogenicity for cultures, it did not produce acute infections in mice after intranasal inoculation of 1 × 10⁴ amebae/mouse. The foregoing results constituted the basis for the establishment of the Oak Ridge strain as a new species, A. royreba sp. n., in the genus Acanthamoeba.     

Potomacus pottsi n. g., n. sp., a Hymenostome Ciliate from the Potomac River*

SYNOPSIS. Potomacus pottsi n. g., n. sp., a brackish water hymenostome ciliate, is described from the Potomac River. Morphologic studies were made on specimens treated with the Chatton-Lwoff silver impregnation technic. Polymorphism, with the formation of large macrostome forms, was noted. Particular attention is given to the buccal ciliature and its importance to generic assignment in the order Hymenostomatida.     

Glauconema trihymene n. g., n. sp., a Hymenostome Ciliate from the Virginia Coast*

SYNOPSIS. Glauconema trihymene n. g., n. sp., a marine hymenostome ciliate, is described from the Virginia coast. Morphologic studies were made on specimens treated with the Chatton-Lwoff silver impregnation technic and on animals observed with the phase microscope. Particular attention is given to the buccal ciliature and its importance to generic assignment in the order Hymenostomatida.     

Platyamoeba stenopodia. n. g., n. sp., a Freshwater Amoeba*

SYNOPSIS. Platyamoeba stenopodia n. g., n. sp., isolated from a lake in Alabama, is an amoeba with flattened form, usually more than 2.5 × as long as broad, the anterior half hyaline and the posterior half granular, with a single vesiculate nucleus at the posterior edge of the hyaline region. It forms a transitory floating stage with slender, hyaline pseudopods. Its cyst is spherical, uninucleate, with a smooth inner wall and a thinner, closely applied outer wall, which is often slightly wrinkled. Length of locomotive amoeba 15–36 μ diameter of cyst 7–11.5 μ Reproduction by binary fission with mesomitotic nuclear division, the nuclear membrane disappearing in prophase. The genus Platyamoeba is erected for amoebae including this organism; the type species is P. placida.     

Eimeria malabaricas sp. n. and Eimeria bandipurensis from the South Indian Tree Squirrel,Funambulus tristriatus*

Synopsis. Oocysts of Eimeria malabaricas sp. n. and Eimeria bandipurensis from the South Indian tree squirrel Funambulus tristriatus collected in Kerala, India, are described. Sporulated oocysts of E. malabaricas were ellipsoid to subspherical measuring 39.8 (35–45) × 32.1 (29–37) m?m, with a thick (2.5–3.0 m?m), 2-layered wall. The outer layer was yellow-brown, striated, and rough. There was no micropyle. but a polar granule was present in 34% of oocysts. The sporocysts were ovoid, 16.0 (14.0–18.0) × 11.2 (11.0–12.0) m?m, with a Stieda body and a granular residuum. Excysted sporozoites were 21.8 (19.0–23.0) × 3.4 (3.0–4.0) m?m, with a large refractile body. The sporulated oocysts of E. bandipurensis are redescribed.     

Monocercomonas molae n. sp., a Flagellate from the Sunfish Mola mola*

SYNOPSIS. Monocercomonas molae from the hindgut of the sunfish Mola mola is described. The host was taken from southern California coastal waters in October, 1964. The body of the flagellate is 8.0 × 10.7 microns. A single basal granule complex gives rise to 4 flagella, one of which is recurrent. The axostyle is relatively stout, with argentophilic granules, and possesses a periaxostylar ring. The capitulum of the axostyle continues into the sickle-shaped pelta, and the parabasal body is rod-shaped or lobed and roughly triangular in cross-section.