Lizard erythrocytic virus in east African chameleons

Giemsa-stained peripheral blood films from 9 of 50 flap-necked chameleons, Chamaeleo dilepis, and 1 of 18 Fischer's chameleons, Bradypodion fischeri, collected in Tanzania had intraerythrocytic inclusions. In C. dilepis, acidophilic inclusions were associated with the albuminoid vacuoles reported in typical pirhemocytonosis of saurians. Under transmission electron microscopy, the acidophilic inclusions were aggregations of partially or completely formed viral particles consistent with those of the family Iridoviridae. Enveloped viral particles were 140 to 180 nm in diameter, with a mean of 159 nm (SD, 12). Albuminoid vacuoles were not seen in the B. fischeri infection, in which erythrocytes contained multiple acidophilic inclusions of variable shape. Viral particles in B. fischeri were 156.3 to 200.0 nm in diameter; the mean was 180 nm (SD, 18). This represents the first confirmation of the viral identity of pirhemocyton in a lizard. We recommend that the epithet pirhemocyton no longer be used as a generic name under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and that future reports of the etiologic agent refer to it as Lizard Erythrocytic Virus.