Some Blood Sporozoans from East African Reptiles*

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Six hundred and forty‐one lizards belonging to 28 species, and 29 snakes belonging to 12 species from East Africa were examined for blood sporozoans. Eight species of lizards and 4 of snakes were positive. Tissue phases were seen in some infections; no proven arthropod vectors were found. Parasites are described from previously unreported hosts; new host records, and new stages in the life histories of previously named parasites are reported. The sporozoans belong to the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Haemogregarina or Hepatozoon , and probably Pirhemocyton. Reasons are given for the inadvisability of establishing new species of some of these on the basis of blood stages alone.