Plasmodium pessoai

Last updated

Plasmodium pessoai
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemospororida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Species:
P. pessoai
Binomial name
Plasmodium pessoai
Ayala et al., 1978

Plasmodium pessoai is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium . As in all Plasmodium species, P. pessoai has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.

Contents

Taxonomy

The parasite was first described by Ayala et al. in 1978. [1] The species is named after Dr Samuel B Pessoa - a parasitologist at the Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.

Morphologically this species appears to be related to Plasmodium aurulentum .

Description

The gametocytes are small and sausage shaped (10.4 x 4.6 micrometres)

Immature schizonts often contain a digestive vacuole.

Mature schizonts are spherical or bouquet-shaped and produce 22 - 32 merozoites. They may possess an intensely staining magenta or rose-coloured substance in the matrix of the surrounding vacuole.

Distribution

This species is found in Costa Rica, Central America.

Hosts

Plasmodium pessoai is one of several species known to infect snakes. Other examples are Plasmodium wenyoni and Plasmodium tomodoni . This species infects the rat snake ( Spilotes pullatus ) and the bush master ( Lachesis muta ). Plasmodium bitis and infects Viperidae, Plasmodium pythonis infects Python sebae, and Plasmodium melanoleuca infects Elapidae. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Plasmodium</i> Genus of parasitic protists that can cause malaria

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 aegyptensis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia which infects the Egyptian grass rat. The insect vector(s) for this species is not yet known.

Plasmodium pifanoi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Paraplasmodium. As in all Plasmodium species, P. pifanoi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.

Plasmodium minasense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.

Plasmodium chiricahuae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Paraplasmodium.

Plasmodium cnemidophori is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba. As in all Plasmodium species, P. cnemidophori has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.

Plasmodium diploglossi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba. As in all Plasmodium species, P. diploglossi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.

Plasmodium eylesi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Plasmodium.

Plasmodium tomodoni is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium. As in all Plasmodium species, P. tomodoni has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.

Plasmodium lemuris is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia.

Plasmodium guyannense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba. As in all Plasmodium species, P. guyannense has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.

Plasmodium basilisci is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.

Plasmodium clelandi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.

Plasmodium diminutivum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.

Plasmodium uluguruense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.

Plasmodium loveridgei is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.

Plasmodium gonatodi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

Plasmodium juxtanucleare is a species of parasite in the family Plasmodiidae. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.

Plasmodium fieldi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium sub genus Plasmodium found in Malaysia. This species is related to Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium simiovale. As in all Plasmodium species, P. fieldi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are primates.

Plasmodium alaudae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

References

  1. Ayala S.C., Moreno-Robles E., Bolaños-Herrera, R. (1978) Plasmodium pessoai sp. n. procedentes de dos serpientes costarricenses. J. Parasitol. 64(2)330-335
  2. Telford, J.,.S.R. (2009). Hemoparasites of the Reptilia: Color Atlas and Text (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420080414