Besnoitia jellisoni in macrophages and cysts from experimentally infected laboratory mice.

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Besnoitia jellisoni from experimentally infected laboratory mice (Mus musculus) was studied by means of electron microscopy. After inoculation into the peritoneal cavity, the parasites were often found within vacuoles in macrophages, in which they underwent multiplication. About 10 days after inoculation, the peritoneal fluid became free of macrophages with parasites. The latter were then seen not earlier than 3–8 weeks later within cysts, which were distributed within the reticular endothelial system indicating transport of the parasites by macrophages. Within macrophages and cysts the parasites reproduced by endodyogeny and occasionally by endopolygeny. In serial sections of some specimens, the inner membranes of the daugther merozoites were found to be continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cytochemical studies showed that acid phosphatase was present within the ER and between the inner membranes of the pellicle. These findings indicate the origin of the inner membranes from the ER.