Plasmodium iguanae

Plasmodium iguanae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

Plasmodium iguanae
Scientific classification
Clade: SAR
Infrakingdom: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemospororida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Species:
P. iguanae
Binomial name
Plasmodium iguanae
Telford, 1980

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

Description

The parasite was first described by Telford in 1980.[1]

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 Green Iguana lizard Iguana iguana.

References
  1. 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


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