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.
Plasmodium ashfordi is a species of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Papernaia.
Plasmodium brodeni is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. brodeni has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium gologoense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium arachniformis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium michikoa is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.
Plasmodium uzungwiense is a parasite of the genius Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium tanzaniae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium holaspi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium durae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
Plasmodium fischeri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium zonuriae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium achiotense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.
Avian malaria is a parasitic disease of birds, caused by parasite species belonging to the genera Plasmodium and Hemoproteus. The disease is transmitted by a dipteran vector including mosquitoes in the case of Plasmodium parasites and biting midges for Hemoproteus. The range of symptoms and effects of the parasite on its bird hosts is very wide, from asymptomatic cases to drastic population declines due to the disease, as is the case of the Hawaiian honeycreepers. The diversity of parasites is large, as it is estimated that there are approximately as many parasites as there are species of hosts. As research on human malaria parasites became difficult, Dr. Ross studied avian malaria parasites. Co-speciation and host switching events have contributed to the broad range of hosts that these parasites can infect, causing avian malaria to be a widespread global disease, found everywhere except Antarctica.
Plasmodium georgesi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium buteonis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
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 vinckei is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. vinckei has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are rodents.
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.
Plasmodium intabazwe is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
