Plasmodium clelandi

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

Plasmodium clelandi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: TSAR
Clade: SAR
Clade: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemospororida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Species:
P. clelandi
Binomial name
Plasmodium clelandi
Manawadu, 1972

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

Description

This species was described by Manawadu in 1972.[1] It was named after the eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon William Paton Cleland.

The host cells are not altered in either shape or size by the asexual stages of the parasite. Pigment is rare and a vacuole may be present.

The schizonts typically give rise to 8 merozoites.

The gametocytes are elongated with an irregular edge. They tend to encircle the nucleus and the host cell tends to become oval in shape.

Male gametocytes measure 20 micrometres x 2 micrometres and possess 6-8 brown pigment granules.

Female gametocytes measure 18 micrometres x 4 micrometres. The cytoplasm tends to be more basophilic than the male gametocytes. 10-12 pigment granules are found in the cytoplasm.

Distribution

This species occurs in Sri Lanka.

Hosts

This species infects the Bengal monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) and land monitor lizard (Varanus cepedianus).

References

  1. Manawanu B.R. (1972) A new saurian malaria parasite Plasmodium clelandi sp. n. from Ceylon. J. Euk. Micro. 19 (4) 587–589.


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