Mémoire

Plasmodium brygooi sp. n. from Chamaeleo brevicornis of Madagascar, with a redescription of Plasmodium robinsoni (Brygoo, 1962) from its type host and an additional host, Chamaeleo parsoni crucifer

Plasmodium brygooi n. sp. parasite de Chamaeleo brevicornis à Madagascar, avec la redescription de Plasmodium robinsoni (Brygoo, 1962) chez son hôte type et chez un deuxième hôte, Chamaeleo parsoni crucifer

¹ The Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA 32611.
² Laboratoire de Zoologie des Vers, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 61, rue Buffon, F 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.

Accepted: 30 April 1987

Abstract

Plasmodium brygooi sp. n., described from Chamaeleo brevicornis of Madagascar, has schizonts smaller than or equal to host cell nucleus size. Schizonts produce 10-16 merozoites usually arranged peripherally around clusters of dark pigment granules. Gametocytes, oval or elongate, average slightly larger than host cell nuclei. Schizonts and gametocytes usually lie polar in enlarged erythrocytes. Hypertrophy of host cell nuclei is produced by schizonts but not by gametocytes. Plasmodium robinsoni (Brygoo) 1962 is a much larger parasite of C. brevicornis and Chamaeleo parsoni crucifer. Schizonts are round, oval or elongate, and approximate gametocytes in size. The 40-74 merozoites fill schizonts which usually contain a single, central large mass of golden pigment. Gametocytes are oval to elongate or bulky, with macrogametocytes larger and less elongate than microgametocytes. Both schizonts and gametocytes average three times or more the size of host cell nuclei. Host cells of asexual or sexual stages show hypertrophy but only erythrocytes parasitized by schizonts have enlarged nuclei.

Résumé

Description de Plasmodium brygooi n. sp. chez Chamaeleo brevicornis de Madagascar et redescription de Plasmodium robinsoni (Brygoo), 1962 chez C. brevicornis et C. p. crucifer. Les deux espèces se différencient par leur taille, P. robinsoni étant beaucoup plus grand que P. brygooi.