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Transmission of the Chelonian Haemoproteid Haemoproteus metchnikovi by a Tabanid Fly Chrysops callidus

Nature volume 242, pages 50–51 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

Haemoproteus metchnikovi (Simond, 1901), also referred to by Garnham1 as Simondia metchnikovi, is a parasite of chelonians. For a number of years we have studied haematophagous insects that feed on turtles in an attempt to discover the mode of transmission of H. metchnikovi. Insects were collected, dissected and examined for the presence of intermediate developmental stages and sporozoites. During these studies a sporozoite was found in the salivary glands of the fly Chrysops callidus2 (Diptera: Tabanidae), which gave rise to typical gametocytes of H. metchnikovi in erythrocytes when inoculated into laboratory raised turtles, Chrysemys picta. We believe this is the first report of a dipteran of the family Tabanidae serving as the intermediate host of a haemosporidian.

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References

  1. Garnham, P. C. C., Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia, 938 (Blackwell, Oxford, 1966).

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  2. Moucha, J., Acta Entomol. Mus. Natl. Pragae, 38, 237 (1969).

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  3. DeGiusti, D. L., Progr. in Protozool., Proc. Second Internat. Conf. Protozool., 176 (1965).

  4. Jones, C. M., and Anthony, D. W., Tech. Bull., No. 1295, 16 (US Dept. Agriculture, 1964).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Biology, Wayne State University,

    D. L. DEGIUSTI, C. R. STERLING & D. DOBRZECHOWSKI

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  1. D. L. DEGIUSTI
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  2. C. R. STERLING
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  3. D. DOBRZECHOWSKI
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DEGIUSTI, D., STERLING, C. & DOBRZECHOWSKI, D. Transmission of the Chelonian Haemoproteid Haemoproteus metchnikovi by a Tabanid Fly Chrysops callidus. Nature 242, 50–51 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/242050a0

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