Plasmodium is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. The life cycles of Plasmodium species involve development in a blood-feeding insect host which then injects parasites into a vertebrate host during a blood meal. Parasites grow within a vertebrate body tissue before entering the bloodstream to infect red blood cells. The ensuing destruction of host red blood cells can result in malaria. During this infection, some parasites are picked up by a blood-feeding insect, continuing the life cycle.
The Plasmodiidae are a family of apicomplexan parasites, including the type genus Plasmodium, which is responsible for malaria. This family was erected in 1903 by Mesnil and is one of the four families in the order Haemospororida.
Giovanolaia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium created by Corradetti et al. in 1963. The parasites within this subgenus infect birds.
Haemamoeba is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium — all of which are parasites. The subgenus was created in 1963 by created by Corradetti et al.. Species in this subgenus infect birds.
Bennettinia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium - all of which are parasitic unicellular eukaryotes. The subgenus was created in 1997 by Valkiunas. Plasmodium juxtanucleare is the sole species in this subgenus. It infects birds.
Huffia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium - all of which are parasites. The subgenus was created in 1963 by Corradetti et al.. Species in this subgenus infect birds with malaria.
Plasmodium ashfordi is a species of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Papernaia.
Plasmodium megaglobularis is a species of malaria-causing parasite in the genus Plasmodium, subgenus Novyella. As in all Plasmodium species, P. megaglobularis has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Plasmodium lucens is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Novyella. As in all Plasmodium species, P. lucens has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Plasmodium multivacuolaris is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Novyella
Plasmodium parahexamerium is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Novyella. As in all Plasmodium species, P. parahexamerium has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
The Haemosporida are an order of intraerythrocytic parasitic alveolates.
Plasmodium vaughani is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium, and the type species of the subgenus Novyella. As in all Plasmodium species, P. vaughani has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Plasmodium alaudae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
The genus Polychromophilus consists of obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites that infect bats from every continent except Antarctica. They are transmitted by bat flies, which act as an insect vector as well as the parasite’s site of sporogeny. Polychromophilus follows a fairly typical Haemospororidian lifecycle, with gametocytes and gametes restricted to the bloodstream of the host and meronts infecting organs – most notably the lungs and the liver. The type species is Polychromophilus melanipherus, and was described by Dionisi in 1898.
Papernaia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium, all of which are parasitic protozoa. The subgenus was created in 2010 by Landau et al.
Plasmodium polymorphum is a malarial parasite of the genus Plasmodium. Currently its only known host is the Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis.
Plasmodium unalis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Novyella. As in all Plasmodium species, P. unalis has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
