Ultrastructure studies on post-oocyst development of the lizard hemogregarine Hemolivia mariae in the tick Amblyomma limbatum

The ultrastructural features of the development of Hemolivia maviae, a bloo d parasite of the Australian lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, from sporokinetes to s porozoites in their vector tick Amblyomma limbatum are described. Sporokine tes, released from oocysts, re-establish themselves in tick-gut epithelial cells within a parasitophorous vacuole, the wall of which becomes evaginati ng and anastomosing and is underlined extensively by endoplasmic reticulum. The sporozoites forming within the encysting sporokinete body become borde red by a prominent thick wall, which eventually forms the resistant sporocy st wall. The main differences between the ultrastructural features of Hemol ivia and those of other hemogregarine taxa are discussed.