Development of Eimeria nieschulzi (Coccidia, Apicomplexa) Gamonts and Oocysts in Primary Fetal Rat Cells

Figure 2

Development of macrogamonts and oocysts in primary fetal rat cells in vitro. (a)–(e) Transgenic schizonts IV, merozoites IV, and macrogamonts. (a) YFP is expressed in all parasite stages. (b) TDT is exclusively expressed in the macrogamonts. (c) Overlay of (a) and (b). (d) Corresponding transmitted light micrograph with low contrasted parasite stages. (e) Overlay of (a), (b), and (d) helps to identify the low contrasted gametocytes in the transmitted light micrograph and differentiating the asexual stages from the macrogamont. (f)–(i) Cluster of gamonts. (f) YFP signal (g) TDT signal. (h) Transmission light micrograph shows location of developed gamonts mainly in the periphery of a crypt like structure. An overlay of (f)–(h) is shown in panel (i). (j)–(m) Macrogamont stages adjacent to a mature schizont IV, the YFP (j) is expressed in all parasitic stages, the TDT (k) in the macrogamonts. The colocalization with the corresponding transmitted light micrograph (l) is shown in (m). (n)–(r) Formation of oocysts in vitro. (n) YFP signals in unsporulated oocysts and gametocytes. (o) Corresponding TDT signals. (p) Developed oocysts excited by UV light showing typical autofluorescent oocyst walls. (q) Corresponding transmitted light micrograph. (r) Overlay of (n)–(q).

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