The life-cycle, ultrastructure and mode of feeding of the locust amoeba Malpighamoeba locustae

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Abstract
The primary trophozoites of Malpighamoeba locustae excyst in the crop and midgut of the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) and then penetrate the epithelial cells of the midgut and caeca where they grow and multiply slowly. After about 10–12 days they leave the gut epithelium passively when the cells in which they have grown degenerate and are extruded. From the lumen of the gut they make their way into the lumen of the Malpighian tubules where they feed upon the brush border as extracellular parasites. No primary or secondary trophozoites were found in the haemocoele of the host.During the first few days in the Malpighian tubules the secondary trophozoites undergo a rapid series of divisions which enables them to double their numbers every 24 h so that by day 20–22 the lumen of the tubules is packed with cysts and trophozoites. The trophozoites phagocy-tose small pieces of brush border and numerous food vacuoles are present in their cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of the primary trophozoite contains the normal complement of cell organelles, a notable feature of which are the large, numerous mitochondria with their tubular cristae. When the trophozoites are ready to encyst they round up and begin to lay down a series of membranes which totally cover the trophozoite. Numerous storage granules are found in mature trophozoites which are about to encyst and these may be utilized in cyst wall production.

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