PARASITES OF PROTOZOA 1059 



have occurred in the cytoplasm (Dangeard, 1895; Sassuchin, 1931), and 

 there may have been some hypertrophy of the host's body (Epstein, 

 1922). Epstein, indeed, stated that giant amoebae reaching from 10 to 

 30 times normal size, may result; but that is very much more than is 

 usually observed. 



When the membrane breaks and the spores escape, the host perishes. 

 For that reason, even in heavily parasitized groups of Protozoa, individ- 

 uals with spores dispersed in the cytoplasm are seldom observed. 



Parasites of the Nucleus of Trichonympha 



Except for mention (Kirby, 1940) of the parasites described below, 

 the only report of parasitization of the nucleus of Trichonympha is the 

 description (Kirby, 1932a) of a form in T. saepkidae (Fig. 219B). 

 Numerous spheroidal bodies, each apparently subdivided into compart- 

 ments, filled several nuclei, in which the vestiges of chromatin were con- 

 fined to the central part. Few specimens of this organism were found, 

 and its affinities were not discussed, except for the remark that it is 

 unlike Niicleophaga. 



An unusually interesting parasitization of the nucleus has been studied 

 by the writer in Trichonympha in certain termites of Madagascar and 

 in one from Java. In several series of preparations from Procryptotermes 

 sp. of Madagascar, a large proportion of the hypermastigotes had parasit- 

 ized nuclei. Apparently, in the flagellate from this host two different 

 parasites are involved. One of these has a life history like that of 

 Nucleophaga: growth of a multinucleate parasite, using up the chro- 

 matin, which is restricted to a peripheral reticulum and finally dis- 

 appears; and formation of numerous spores. The size and structural 

 detail of the spores distinguish them from those of any described Nucleo- 

 phaga, and suggest a possible affinity to the Haplosporidia. 



The normal, interkinetic nuclei of these species of Trichonympha 

 have the chromatin in the form of stout, varicose strands which extend 

 throughout the intranuclear area. They may extend entirely to the pe- 

 riphery, but often in the preparations there is a clear outer zone of 

 variable width. In this zone are minute granules. In some nuclei, which 

 possibly show the beginning of kinetic changes, the strands tend to be 

 peripheral, and the central part of the nucleus is occupied by a granular 

 and reticulo-fibrillar matrix. 



