Reproduction and morphogenesis of Rickettsiella chironomi, an unusual intracellular procaryotic parasite of midge larvae

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Abstract
The reproduction and morphogenesis of R. chironomi, an unusual procaryotic parasite of midge larvae, was studied with EM. The morphogenic cycle was similar to that in chlamydia and consisted of 4 major cell types: medium-sized spherical initial bodies (.apprx. 1 .mu.m in diameter), large spherical initial bodies (1.5-2 .mu.m), spherical intermediate bodies (600-700 nm) and disk-shaped elementary bodies (60 .times. 600 nm). The primary mode of reproduction involved binary fission of initial bodies to form other initial bodies or intermediate bodies. Each intermediate body condensed, forming an elementary body. The morphogenesis of R. chironomi is compared with that of several other organisms to which it is possibly related, including vertebrate chlamydia and invertebrate pathogens of the genera Rickettsiella and Porochlamydia and its taxonomic position in regard to these is discussed. A brief description of the pathology caused by the development of R. chironomi in larvae of Chironomus decorus and C. frommeri is given.