The Fine Structure of the Macrogametocytes of Adelina tribolii Bhatia, 1937 (Eucoccidia, Telosporea) from the Fat Body of the Beetle Tribolium castaneum Hbst.

SYNOPSIS. Macrogametocytes of the coccidium Adelina tribolii Bhatia, 1937 are described from the time when they settle in the fat body of the host and form periparasitic vacuoles around them to the stage of microgametocyte occurrence and the beginning of syzygy formation.
The macrogametocyte is surrounded by a 2-layered pellicle 50 mμ thick. Its continuity is interrupted by one or several micropores 40 mμ across and 86 mμ deep.
The cytoplasm of the parasite contains numerous vesicles and lamellae of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Mitochondria of various sizes have short tubules. The macrogametocyte contains a variable number of dark bodies 1.4-2.4 μ in diameter. It also contains several vacuoles up to 1.2 μ which are covered with a 3-layered membrane and enclose a granular material.
In old macrogametocytes in syzygy multivesicular bodies develop which measure up to 2.4 by 1.6 μ. Several smaller vacuoles containing granular material are also a constituent of the electrondense basic substance of these corpuscles.
Paraglycogen granules 1.4 by 0.9 A occur in old macrogametocytes and are situated inside the vacuoles which are not bordered by a membrane. The numbers and size of these granules increase with the age of the parasite. The Golgi complex lies close to the nucleus.
The nucleus, 6-8.5 μ in diameter, is in the center of the macrogametocyte and contains a large eccentric nucleolus. The nuclear membrane is 2-layered and has many pores.