Rhipidura albicollis (Vieil.) (Rhipiduridae)

Paperna, Ilan, Keong, Malcolm Soh Chu & May, Charlotte Yap Aye, 2008, Haemosporozoan Parasites Found In Birds In Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sarawak And Java, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 56 (2), pp. 211-243 : 233-234

Rhipidura albicollis (Vieil.) (Rhipiduridae)

Haemoproteus rhipiduri Bennett, Bishop, Peirce 1991 ( Fig. 18 ) (Table 13)

Locality. – Malaysia: Fraser’s Hill , Aug. and Nov.2002, Feb. and Jul.2003 .

Type host. – Rhipidura javanica , Thailand .

Description. – The gametocytes extend the entire length of the erythrocyte, filling the entire space between the nucleus and the erythrocyte pellicle and lightly adheres to the nucleus. The macrogametocyte nucleus is median, occasionally submedian, and in gravid specimens, becomes conspicuously large (up to 4.4 × 2.2). The pigment granules, usually numbering approximately 12, are typically round or sometimes spiky. The degree of nuclear displacement varies, usually slight (NDR> 0.7) to moderate (<0.7). The early gametocyte adheres to the erythrocyte nucleus. The young gametocyte, while retaining adherence to the nucleus, extends throughout the length of the erythrocyte.

Remarks. – The recovered gametocytes closely match those of Bennett et al.’s (1991) description in shape and size. Valkiunas [1997 (2005)] synonymied Hae. rhipiduri with Hae. fallisi . However, there are many differences between the two, most conspicuously Hae. fallisi being stout and the macrogametocyte nuclei being distally positioned. Even the young gametocytes have an extended rather than stout shape.

Figures

Fig. 18. Haemoproteus rhipiduris from Rhipidura albicollis, Malaysia (from left: microgametocyte and macrogametocyte).