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 malariae is a parasitic protozoan that causes malaria in humans. It is one of several species of Plasmodium parasites that infect other organisms as pathogens, also including Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, responsible for most malarial infection. Found worldwide, it causes a so-called "benign malaria", not nearly as dangerous as that produced by P. falciparum or P. vivax. The signs include fevers that recur at approximately three-day intervals – a quartan fever or quartan malaria – longer than the two-day (tertian) intervals of the other malarial parasite.
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 pelaezi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba. As in all Plasmodium species P. pelaezi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.
Plasmodium sasai is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.
Plasmodium colombiense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium coulangesi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. coulangesi 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 tribolonoti is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium gracilis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium tumbayaensis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium uilenbergi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. uilenbergi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium bucki is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia.As in all Plasmodium species, P. bucki has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium percygarnhami is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. percygarnhami has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium lemuris is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia.
Plasmodium foleyi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. foleyi 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 gemini is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium. Like all Plasmodium species P. gemini has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
Plasmodium koreafense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
