The Haemogregarines of Mammals and Reptiles

Abstract

In two recent papersm Sambon and Seligmann (1907, 1908) have recorded some observations on the intracellular parasites of snakes, and have described no less than ten new species. The authors, in discussing the life histories of these parasites, have made the startling discovery that, “the life history of the haemogregarines like that of the haemoprotozoa is divided into two cycles: a schizogonic or ‘vegetative’ cycle spent in the blood of vertebrates and characterised by asexual multiplication, and a sporogonic or sexual cycle spent in the digestive organs of blood-sucking invertebrates and characterised by sexual reproduction.” The authors then go on to speak quite familiarly of young merozoites, adult schizonts, adult sporonts, and so on.