Plasmodium pifanoi
| Plasmodium pifanoi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemospororida |
| Family: | Plasmodiidae |
| Genus: | Plasmodium |
| Species: | P. pifanoi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium pifanoi Scorza and Dagert, 1956
| |
Plasmodium pifanoi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Paraplasmodium. As in all Plasmodium species, P. pifanoi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Scorza and Dagert in 1956. It was redescribed in 2003 by Telford.[1]
Description
[edit]The asexual stages are irregular in shape and do not have a vacuole.
Schizonts measure 6.2 × 4.5 micrometres (range: 4 – 8 × 3 – 6) and produce on average 11.9 (range: 7 – 16) merozoites.
Gametocytes average 12.4 × 6.0 micrometres (range: 8 – 16 × 4 – 10). The average length × width product is 72.9 (range: 52 – 112) and the average length / width ratio is 2.18 (range: 1.1 – 3.3). The gametocytes always contain 1 – 5 prominent vacuoles.
Macrogametocytes during active infection are longer than microgametocytes with a greater length-width product. Gametocytes in chronic infection are slightly smaller and are not sexually dimorphic in their dimensions.
Distribution
[edit]Found in Venezuela, South America.
Hosts
[edit]Known hosts are the lizards Ameiva ameiva and Kentropyx calcarata.
References
[edit]- ^ Telford S. R. Jr., Telford S.R. III (2003) Rediscovery and redescription of Plasmodium pifanoi and description of two additional Plasmodium parasites of Venezuelan lizards. J. Parasitol. 89(2) 362–368
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