2 NEW SPECIES OF HARTMANNELLA AMEBAE INFECTING FRESHWATER MOLLUSKS

SYNOPSIS. Two new species of small amebae, Hartmannella biparia n. sp. and Hartmannella quadriparia n. sp., were 1st observed in the freshwater mollusks Bulinus globosus and Biomphalaria pallida, respectively. The amebae multiplied in cytoplasmic vacuoles in host cells, particularly in foci in the mantle collar, foot, and intestinal wall. Both amebae had functional contractile vacuoles while within host cells. H. biparia emerged from intracytoplasmic vacuoles in pairs, H. quadriparia in fours, suggesting characteristic reproductive stages. H. biparia had limax‐type motility by smooth lobopodia, was 22 μ long; with vesicular nucleus 3 μ and central endosome 1.5 μ, multiplied by binary fission and formed spherical, smooth‐walled cysts 11 μ in diameter. H. quadriparia had limax‐type motility by lobopodia with fine, acute projections; was 10 μ long, with vesicular nucleus 2 μ and central endosome 0.75 μ, multiplied and formed spherical, smooth‐walled cysts 5 μ in diameter. Neither species multiplied in cysts outside the host. H. biparia was found infecting 12 species and experimentally transferred to 4 more species of freshwater snails; H. quadriparia was found in one species and experimentally transferred to 6 other species. Copyright © 1968, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved