The Intra‐erythrocytic Development of Babesiosoma stableri n. sp. in Rana pipiens pipiens*

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Abstract
The occurrence of Babesiosoma stableri n. sp. in the erythrocytes of Rana pipiens pipiens extends the host range of babesiosomids to the Salientia. The proposed sequence of developmental stages includes the following events: (1) two successive nuclear divisions of the uninucleate trophozoite produce a tetranucleate organism, (2) cytoplasmic cleavage initiated at each pole of the tetranucleate parasite results in four daughter individuals arranged in a cross‐form, (3) the four merozoites originating from the cruciform schizont separate without the formation of a residual mass of cytoplasm, (4) gametocytes which presumably arise from differentiated merozoites do not exhibit dimorphism. The morphology and characteristics of the parasite's development were not altered when B. stableri was experimentally transferred to: R. p. sphenocephala, Rana catesbeiana, Bufo americanus, Bufo woodhousei fowleri, and Bufo terrestris. Experimental infections, with few exceptions, exhibited a peak parasitemia followed by a decline in the number of babesiosomids. Infections persisted at a low level or disappeared during the period of study.

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