OBSERVATION ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURES OF MEROZOITES AND GAMETOCYTES OF LEUCOCYTOZOON CAULLERYI

The fine structures of merozoites and gametocytes of Leucocytozoon caulleryi from peripheral blood, liver, spleen and othef tissues of naturaliy infected chickens were examined under electron microscope. Results revealed that:The merozoites of Leucocytozoon caulleryi appeared to be round to oval in shape and were surrounded by two clearly marked membrances, i.e.a thin outer and a thick inner membrane. The merozoites possessed a large round to oval nucleus, a small nucleolus, numerous ribosomes,a mitochondria with tubular cristae and 1 - 2 large lipid inclusions. The micro- and macro-gametocytes were surrounded by 3-layered clearly marked membrane as in Leucocytozoon sabrazesi but in the mature gametocytes of L. caulleryi only 2-layered membrances were seen. The mature gametocytes were round or elliptical in shape and contained a nucleus, numerous ribosomes, food vacueles, lipid inclusions and endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm. The microgametocytes were smaller than macroga-metocytes and possessed a large nucleus. The macrogametocytes were also easily distinguished from microgametocytes by their dark staining appearance and their well developed endoplasmic reticulum.