HBPATOZOON. 



151 



Nucleus close to the bent end. Active vermicule stage free 

 in the plasma. Further development takes place in the louse, 

 Heemafopinus stephensi. In the ahmentary canal of the louse 

 free worm-like parasites are recognized. In the body- cavity 

 are found large oocysts in various stages of development. 

 The fully developed oocysts contain numerous oval sporocysts ; 

 each sporocyst contains 6 to 8 sporozoites and a residual body. 



Fig. 69. — Hepatozoon gerbilli (Christophers). A, forms in the red 

 blood-corpuscles ; B, fully matured oocyst ; C, sporocyst con- 

 taining sporozoites. (After Christophers.) 



Dimensions. — Oocysts 350 /x in diameter. 



Remarks. — In imperfectly stained films the general appear- 

 ance of the parasite is very like that of the malarial crescents, 

 except that the pigment is absent. This is due to the " tail " 

 not being differentiated from the body. 



Habitat. — ^Red blood- corpuscles of the Indian gerbil, 

 Tatera indica (Hardw.) {^Gerbillus indicus), and in the mid-gut 

 and the pyloric ampulla of the louse, Hsematopinus stephensi 

 Christophers & Newstead : India (locahty not cited). 



