Development of Trypanoplasma borreli (Mastigophora: Kinetoplastida) in the leech vector Piscicola geometra and its infectivity for the common carp, Cyprinus carpio.

The development of Trypanoplasma borreli in the crop of the leech vector Piscicola geometra was characterized by significant changes in morphology. Immediately after ingestion by the leech, stumpy-shaped T. borreli predominated and numerous dividing specimens were found. This led to long and slender trypanoplasms near the end of the infection. The infection was terminated with complete digestion of the blood stored in the crop of the leech. The longest period of infection observed was 11 days. Trypanoplasma borreli was found only in the crop of the leech. At any time during the infection, T. borreli isolated from P. geometra cause a parasitemia when inoculated into parasite-free carp. There was no difference in morphology or infectivity among T. borreli isolated from various crop regions of P. geometra.