Plasmodium marginatum

Plasmodium marginatum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.

Like all Plasmodium species P. marginatum has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.

Plasmodium marginatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Protista
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemosporida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Species: P. marginatum
Binomial name
Plasmodium marginatum

Description

The parasite was first described by Telford in 1979.[1] This species had previously been considered to be Plasmodium tropiduri.

All stages tend to lie along the erythrocyte margin.

While mature schizonts appear to be like flattened fans with 3 to 8 merozoites, immature schizonts are highly amoeboid.

Gametocytes are smaller than erythrocyte nuclei.

Geographical occurrence

This species is found in Central America and South America.

Clinical features and host pathology

The only known host is the anole lizard Anolis frenatus.

References

  1. Telford SR Jr. (1979) A taxonomic reconsideration of some Plasmodium species from iguanid lizards. Ann. Parasitol. Hum. Comp. 54(2):129-144


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