Plasmodium carmelinoi

Plasmodium carmelinoi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

Like all Plasmodium species P. carmelinoi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.

Description

The parasite was first described by Lainson et al in 2010.^[1] Prevalence of infection is low (5%).

Trophozoites

The trophozoites are initially tear-shaped and possess a large vacuole. As they mature they may assume an irregular shape but ultimately becoming spherical or broadly ovoid. The vacuole reduces the cytoplasm of the parasite to a narrow peripheral band. At first the dark, brownish-black pigment granules are restricted to this rim of cytoplasm but latterly become are concentrated within the vacuole.

Schizonts

These possess 8–12 nuclei and when mature are spherical to ovoid and predominantly polar in their position in the erythrocyte. Mature schizonts average 5.4 (4.4–6.6) x 4.9 (4.4–5.9) micrometres in size.

Merozoites

The merozoites measure approximately 2.0 x 1.0 micrometres.

Gametocytes

Mature gametocytes are polar in position and spherical to subspherical. Vacuoles of the gametocytes are smaller than those of the schizonts, are of ovoid or spindle shape and contain most of the pigment granules.

Microgametocytes measure 6.0 (5.2–6.2) x 5.0 (4.4–5.2) micrometres and stain an overall pink colour due to the dispersed nuclear chromatin.

Macrogametocytes measure 5.7 (4.4–5.9) x 4.2 (4.0–5.1) micrometres and possess a compact, pink-staining nucleus and a clear blue, faintly staining cytoplasm.

The sex ratio was 1 male to 2.2 females.

Geographical occurrence

This parasite is found in Brazil.

Vectors

Not known.

Clinical features and host pathology

P. carmelinoi infects the teiid lizard (Ameiva ameiva).

References