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.
Babesia, also called Nuttallia, is an apicomplexan parasite that infects red blood cells and is transmitted by ticks. Originally discovered by the Romanian bacteriologist Victor Babeș in 1888, over 100 species of Babesia have since been identified.
Plasmodium azurophilum is a species of the genus Plasmodium. Like all species in this genus it is a parasite of both vertebrates and insects. The vertebrate hosts are anole lizards.
Plasmodium balli is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium fairchildi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium cnemaspi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.
Plasmodium circularis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.
Plasmodium michikoa is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.
Plasmodium colombiense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium holaspi 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.
Plasmodium beebei is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium scorzai is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium iguanae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium forresteri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium uluguruense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium loveridgei is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Hematozoa is a subclass of blood parasites of the Apicomplexa clade. Well known examples include the Plasmodium spp. which cause malaria in humans and Theileria which causes theileriosis in cattle. A large number of species are known to infect birds and are transmitted by insect vectors. The pattern in which Haematozoa infect a host cell depends on the genera of the blood parasite. Plasmodium and Leucozytozoon displace the nucleus of the host cell so that the parasite can take control of the cell where as Hemoproteus completely envelops the nucleus in a host cell.
The Haemosporida are an order of intraerythrocytic parasitic alveolates.
