Schizogony in Haemoproteus columbae Kruse

To fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge of Schizogony of Haemoproteus columbae Kruse, transmission experiments involving inoculation into pigeons (Columba livia Gmelin) of sporozonites from salivary glands of the hippoboscid fly Pseudolynchia canariensis (Macquart) were carried out. We were unable to detect prepatent schizonts or to observe schizogonic development when infection became chronic. Schizonts were mainly confined to lung tissue. Observations of parapatent schizonts were made in smears and tissue sections. A variety of forms was found. Cytomeres were rarely encountered. Two types of morphologically distinct merozoites were seen. One type was twice as large as large as the other and was thought to repeat the process of schizogony several times before invading erythrocytes. Schizonts with cytoplasmic clefts were not common in our material due to the fixatives used (Bouin's and Carnoy's). Merozoites were occasionally observed inside monocytes, probably being phagocytosed.