Ultrastructural study of meronts and gamonts of Choleoeimeria rochalimai (Apicomplexa : Eimeriidae) developing in the gall bladder of the gecko Hemidactylus mabouia from Brazil

Endogenous development of Choleoeimeria rochalimai (Carini et Pinto, 1926) Lainson et Paperna, 1999 in the gall bladder of Hemidactylus mabouia (Morea u de Jonnes, 1818) from Belem, Brazil is reported at the fine structural le vel. Meronts and gamonts develop in the epithelial cells of the gall bladde r. Infected cells become enlarged and displaced above the epithelial layer. Developing merozoites, dividing meronts and succession of developing micro gamonts from initial nuclear division up to final microgamete differentiati on are described. In addition to wall forming bodies, mature macrogamonts p ossess a large inclusion or cisterna with fine granular contents.