A new malarial parasite of the flying squirrel

Abstract

The tissue stages and the erythrocytic stages of a malarial parasite infecting a flying squirrel of Darjeeling (Petaurista magnificus) are described. It is shown that this parasite cannot be accommodated in the existing genera of the malarial parasites of mammals (Plasmodium, Hepatocystis and Nycteria). A new genus, Rayella, is proposed to receive this parasite, which is named Rayella rayi (synonym: Plasmodium sp., Ray, 1949; Hepatocystis rayi, Tokura & Wu, 1961). The tissue stages of the parasite are represented by the groups of small schizonts in the form of cystic bodies, which occur in association with the smaller blood-vessels of the liver.The author is grateful to Professor P. C. C. Garnham of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, for his interest and valuable advice. The author wishes to record his special thanks to Professor H. N. Ray who kindly placed the relevant literature and his slides and drawings at the disposal of the author. Professor Ray's unpublished drawings of the erythrocytic stages of the malarial parasite of the flying squirrel (Petaurista inornatus) are reproduced here with his special permission.