Plasmodium pelaezi

"Plasmodium pelaezi" is a parasite of the genus "Plasmodium" subgenus "Sauramoeba".

Like all "Plasmodium" species "P. pelaezi" has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.

Taxobox
color = khaki
name = "Plasmodium pelaezi"
image_caption =


image_width =
regnum = Protista
phylum = Apicomplexa
classis = Aconoidasida
ordo = Haemosporida
familia = Plasmodiidae
genus = "Plasmodium"
species = "P. pelaezi"
binomial = "Plasmodium pelaezi"

Description

This species was first described by Malagón and Salmeron in 1988.Malagón F. and Salmeron M. (1988) "Plasmodium (Sauramoeba) pelaezi" n. sp., a malaria parasite of the mexican iguanid lizard "Urosaurus bicarinatus bicarinatus" (Dumeril, 1856) (Sauria: Iguanidae) System. Parasitol. 141-148 ]

Schizonts are mostly round with a single mass of pigment and render the host cell nuclei spherical.

There are 16 merozoites in mature schizonts.

The gametocytes are round and oval and cause shrinkage of infected cells.

Geographical occurrence

This species was described in lizards found at Chila de la Sal, Puebla, México.

Clinical features and host pathology

The only known host is the iguanid lizard "Urosaurus bicarinatus bicarinatus".

References