Folia Parasitologica 48[3] 169-177 (2001) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2001.029

The life cycle of Haemogregarina bigemina (Adeleina: Haemogregarinidae) in South African hosts

Angela J. Davies¹, Nico J. Smit²

¹ School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK

² Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

Haemogregarina bigemina Laveran et Mesnil, 1901 was examined in marine fishes and the gnathiid isopod, Gnathia africana Barnard, 1914 in South Africa. Its development in fishes was similar to that described previously for this species. Gnathiids taken from fishes with H. bigemina, and prepared sequentially over 28 days post feeding (d.p.f.), contained stages of syzygy, immature and mature oocysts, sporozoites and merozoites of at least three types. Sporozoites, often five in number, formed from each oocyst from 9 d.p.f. First-generation merozoites appeared in small numbers at 11 d.p.f., arising from small, rounded meronts. Mature, second-generation merozoites appeared in large clusters within gut tissue at 18 d.p.f. They were presumed to arise from fan-shaped meronts, first observed at 11 d.p.f. Third-generation merozoites were the shortest, and resulted from binary fission of meronts, derived from second-generation merozoites. Gnathiids taken from sponges within rock pools contained only gamonts and immature oocysts. It is concluded that the development of H. bigemina in its arthropod host illustrates an affinity with Hemolivia and one species of Hepatozoon. However, the absence of sporokinetes and sporocysts also distances it from these genera, and from Karyolysus. Furthermore, H. bigemina produces fewer sporozoites than Cyrilia and Desseria, although, as in Desseria, Haemogregarina (sensu stricto) and Babesiosoma, post-sporogonic production of merozoites occurs in the invertebrate host. The presence of intraerythrocytic binary fission in its fish host means that H. bigemina is not a Desseria. Overall it most closely resembles Haemogregarina (sensu stricto) in its development, although the match is not exact.

Keywords: Adeleina, Haemogregarinidae, Haemogregarina bigemina, Gnathia africana, fish parasites, blood parasites, transmission, life cycle

Received: September 29, 2000; Accepted: December 14, 2000; Published: September 1, 2001  Show citation