[Light and electron microscopic studies of Eperythrozoon suis]

A light and electron microscopic study was carried out on pigs experimentally infected with Eperythrozoon (E.) suis during the acute and chronic phase of infection. During the acute phase Eperythrozoon organisms can be recognised by light microscopy as bright to dark orange points or circles. In contrast, in the chronically infected pigs E. suis appear as bright yellow or green small dots on the edge of the erythrocytes or in the plasma. By scanning electron microscopy, immature, juvenile and mature forms of E. suis could be seen on the same erythrocyte during the acute phase. In chronically infected pigs ring-shaped, rounded resting-stage forms, measuring about 1 micron in diameter, can be observed.