This study reports the light and electron microscopic examination of Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) microti from the social vole (Microtus socialis, Rodentia) from the steppe near Askania Nova, Ukraine. Bloodstream trypomastigotes were identified morphometrically from 100 specimens from blood of 4 infected social voles. Body length ranged from 13.88-27.79 µm, and width from 0.53-2.06 µm, with the free flagellum 5.12-11.69 µm long. The trypanosomes were comparable to Trypanosoma microti from the short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis, and the root vole, Microtus oeconomus. Cultured epimastigotes exhibited typical ultrastructural features similar to those of stercorarian and salivarian groups.
The study reports on chromosomes in several populations of social voles from south-eastern Europe and the Middle East. The standard karyotypes of individuals of Microtus hartingi and Microtus guentheri originating from both south-eastern Europe and Asia Minor comprised 54 mostly acrocentric chromosomes. However, variation between populations was found in the amount and distribution of C-heterochromatin in certain autosomes and the sex chromosomes. Furthermore, a specific pattern of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region distribution was recorded in different geographic populations. In a population from Asia Minor, a heterozygous centric fusion of two autosomes was found. The G-banded karyotypes of M. guentheri and Microtus socialis were compared, and tandem fusions of autosomes were suggested as possible mechanism of the divergence. The karyotypes of the nine currently recognized species of social voles are reviewed, and implications of chromosomal data for systematics are evaluated.
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