Plasmodium iguanae

"Plasmodium iguanae" is a parasite of the genus "Plasmodium".

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

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


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

Description

The parasite was first described by Telford in 1980. Telford, S. R, Jr (1980) The saurian malarias of Venezuela: Plasmodium species from iguanid and teiid hosts. Int. J. Parasitol. 10(5/6): 365-374]

The schizonts have 6 to 25 nuclei and are heavily pigmented when in erythrocytes.

The gametocytes are round to oval, prominently pigmented and exceed the host cell nucleus in size, are more commonly found in pro-erythrocytes than in mature cells.

Geographical occurrence

This species is found in Venezuela.

Clinical features and host pathology

The only known host species is the lizard "Iguana iguana iguana"

References