Plasmodium cnemaspi

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

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

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

Description

The parasite was first described by Telford in 1984.[1]

The schizonts are usually round, oval or oblong, exceed the host cell nuclei in size and produce 8-20 merozoites.

The gametocytes are elongate or oval and have dispersed pigment averaging twice the size of host cell nuclei in size. In chronic infections, gametocytes may become rounded and cause both host cell and nucleus to shrink.

Geographical occurrence

This species is found in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania.

Clinical features and host pathology

This species infects the lizard Cnemaspis africana.

References
  1. Telford, Jr S.R. (1984) Studies on African saurian malarias: Three Plasmodium species from gekkonid hosts J. Parasitol. 70 (3) 343-354


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