Periodicity of Leucocytozoon smithi gametocytes in the peripheral blood of domestic turkeys.

Gametocytes of Leucocytozoon smithi exhibited a cyclic activity both in cardiac and peripheral blood of domestic turkeys during a given 24-hr. period. Peak parasitemias occurred from 0800 to 2000 hr., and mean low parasitemias from 2200 to 0400. The most prominent feeding period of the vector Simulium slossonae coincided with the period of elevated parasitemia in the turkey host.