Papernaia

Papernaia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium - all of which are parasitic protozoa. The subgenus was created in 2010 by Landau et al^[1]

Plasmodium
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
(unranked):	Sar
Superphylum:	Alveolata
Phylum:	Apicomplexa
Class:	Aconoidasida
Order:	Haemosporida
Family:	Plasmodiidae
Genus:	Plasmodium
Subgenus:	Papernaia
Species
Plasmodium ashfordi Plasmodium beaucournui Plasmodium bertii Plasmodium columbae Plasmodium dherteae Plasmodium durae Plasmodium formosanum Plasmodium gabaldoni Plasmodium garnhami Plasmodium golvani Plasmodium hegneri Plasmodium hexamerium Plasmodium jeanriouxi Plasmodium lenoblei Plasmodium nucleophilum Plasmodium paranucleophilum Plasmodium pediocetae Plasmodium pinotti Plasmodium polare Plasmodium reniai Plasmodium rouxi Plasmodium snounoui Plasmodium valkiunasi

Species in this subgenus infect birds with malaria.

Subgenus characteristics

The gametocytes are elongated. The schizonts apically or lateroapically placed and are rounded or irregularly shaped. The host nucleus may be tilted.

History

This subgenus was created on the basis of morphology. It may be subsequently revised when more information becomes available from DNA studies.

It was created to deal with the existing problems with the existing subgenera Giovannolaia and Novyella. Both genera were originally defined on the basis of morphology but subsequent DNA analysis showed them both to be polyphetic. These subgenera have been revised and several of the species originally placed within those subgenera have now been moved to Papernaia.

The name of this subgenus was chosen to honour the malariologist Ilan Paperna.

References

1. Landau, I.; Chavatte, J.M.; Peters, W.; Chabaud, A. (2010). "The sub-genera of Avian Plasmodium". Parasite 17 (1): 3–7. doi:10.1051/parasite/2010171003. ISSN 1252-607X. PMID 20387732.