Fine structure of the schizont and merozoite of Isospora sp. (Sporozoa: Eimeriidae) parasitic in Gehyra variegata (Dumeril and Bibron, 1836) (Repitlia: Gekkonidae).

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. A study was made of the fine structure of some stages in the life cycle of an undesignated species of Isospora parasitic in a gecko. The merozoites which lay within a membrane‐bound periparasitic vacuole in the host epithelial cell, had a striking similarity to Plasmodium, Lankesterella, Toxoplasma, Besnoitia, Sarcocystis, Eimeria and the M‐organism. Each merozoite was invested with a triple‐layered pellicle, the outer membrane of which was loosely applied. At the anterior end of the merozoite were conoid and apical rings; microtubules terminated in the posterior apical ring. Other organelles included nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, micropyle, paired organelle, toxonemes and a variety of vacuoles. Although the sequence of development of the merozoite was not completely followed, some events in this process were recorded. The evidence suggests that anterior ends are formed early and that merozoites develop subsequently by a process of budding. The merozoite pellicle appears to be continuous with, altho structurally different from, the investing membrane of the parent cell.