Trypanosomes in amphibians and reptiles in southern Ontario

Abstract

During a survey of trypanosomes of poikilothermic vertebrates by the haematocrit centrifuge technique, 396 amphibians and 364 reptiles were examined from four study areas in southern Ontario. T. rotatorium, T. ranarum, T. gaumontis, and T. pipientis were found in Rana spp. Trypanosoma canadensis n. sp. of Rana pipiens is similar to T. pipientis except that the kinetoplast is round and there is no endosome. Also, metacyclic forms occur in the crop of leeches, epimastigotes divide evenly, and yellow granules are present in epimastigotes. T. chrysemydis was found in Chrysemys picta marginata and Graptemys geographica. Redescriptions of the trypanosomes are given.