Dactylosoma cf. ranarum SK in blood smears of Pelophylax ridibundus. A) Trophozoite. B; C) Trophozoite transforming into meront stage. D–I) Primary merogony: D; E) Early primary meront. F) Young primary meront. G) Maturing primary meront with initial merozoite formation. H) Primary meront with budding merozoites. I) Primary merozoites. The inset shows a primary merozoite following erythrocyte invasion. J–K) Secondary merogony: J) Maturing secondary meront with five clearly visible nuclei. K) Secondary merozoite following erythrocyte invasion. L) Immature intracellular gamonts at different stages of development. M) Mature intracellular gamont. N) Mature intracellular gamont straightening prior to exiting the erythrocyte. O) Mature gamont emerging from an erythrocyte. P) Extracellular immature (top) and mature (bottom) gamont released from damaged erythrocytes. Bright-field microscopy, Giemsa staining. Scale bar applies to all micrographs. Black arrowhead – condensed chromatin/nucleus, black asterisk – merozoite after invasion of erythrocyte, de – degrading erythrocyte, white arrowhead – apical end of gamont; white asterisk – trophozoite.