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 knowlesi is a parasite that causes malaria in humans and other primates. It is found throughout Southeast Asia, and is the most common cause of human malaria in Malaysia. Like other Plasmodium species, P. knowlesi has a life cycle that requires infection of both a mosquito and a warm-blooded host. While the natural warm-blooded hosts of P. knowlesi are likely various Old World monkeys, humans can be infected by P. knowlesi if they are fed upon by infected mosquitoes. P. knowlesi is a eukaryote in the phylum Apicomplexa, genus Plasmodium, and subgenus Plasmodium. It is most closely related to the human parasite Plasmodium vivax as well as other Plasmodium species that infect non-human primates.
Vinckeia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium — all of which are parasitic alveolates. The subgenus Vinckeia was created by Cyril Garnham in 1964 to accommodate the mammalian parasites other than those infecting the primates.
Plasmodium booliati is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. booliati has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium holaspi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium gundersi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
Plasmodium giganteum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba. As in all Plasmodium species, P. giganteum has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
Plasmodium polare is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Papernaia.
Plasmodium watteni is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. watteni has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium lionatum is a species of apicomplexan parasite in the family Plasmodiidae. Like all Plasmodium species P. lionatum has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.
Plasmodium sandoshami is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. sandoshami has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium anomaluri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. anomaluri has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
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 pulmophilium is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. Like all Plasmodium species, P. pulmophilium has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium incertae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium, subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. incertae has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium neusticuri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium hydrochaeri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia.
Plasmodium silvaticum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium cynomolgi is an apicomplexan parasite that infects mosquitoes and Asian Old World monkeys. In recent years, a number of natural infections of humans have also been documented. This species has been used as a model for human Plasmodium vivax because Plasmodium cynomolgi shares the same life cycle and some important biological features with P. vivax.
Plasmodium lophurae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
