Intrahepatic stages of Eimeria funduli (Protista:Apicomplexa) in the longnose killifish, Fundulus similis

Intrahepatic development of Eimeria funduli was studied in semithin sections of epoxy-embedded liver of Fundulus similis. Because E. funduli requires an intermediate host, uninfected wild specimens of F. similis were fed cephalothoracic tissues from the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio, which had bee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 1984-04, Vol.103 (2), p.185-194
Main Authors: Hawkins, W.E, Fournie, J.W, Overstreet, R.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acinar cells
Brackish
Fundulus similis
Gametocytes
Hepatocytes
Liver
Marine
Meronts
Merozoites
Oocysts
Parasite hosts
Parasitism
Zygotes
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Summary:Intrahepatic development of Eimeria funduli was studied in semithin sections of epoxy-embedded liver of Fundulus similis. Because E. funduli requires an intermediate host, uninfected wild specimens of F. similis were fed cephalothoracic tissues from the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio, which had been fed liver containing sporulated oocysts from wild F. grandis. Liver tissue was examined from fish killed periodically 4-35 days after being fed the infective grass shrimp. Eimeria funduli developed mainly in hepatocytes, but also in pancreatic acinar cells. Development of all stages, except penetrating merozoites, occurred within parasitophorous vacuoles that appeared to be limited by host cytoplasm. At least two generations of merozoites developed, each formed by exogenesis. Mature first-generation meronts occurred within 4-6 days and the second generation within 9-11 days postinfection (p.i.). At 12 days p.i., macrogamonts with numerous amylopectin granules and microgamonts in various stages of differentiation occurred. Fertilization probably took place near 13 days p.i., after which time microgamonts no longer were present. A typical eimerian oocyst wall was not formed. Sporoblast formation was well advanced by 21 days p.i. with sporonts forming four spherical sporoblasts. The sporoblast had a dense nucleus and numerous cytoplasmic granules. A veil-like membrane surrounded each sporoblast. At 23 days p.i., sporoblasts were fusiform with one end rounded and the other tapered. At 28 days p.i., the sporoblast's wall thickened and sporopodia developed. By 35 days p.i., sporocysts contained two sporozoites curled around one another.
ISSN:0003-0023
2325-5145
DOI:10.2307/3226241