Plasmodium uluguruense
Plasmodium uluguruense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Like all Plasmodium species P. uluguruense has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
Plasmodium uluguruense | |
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Species: | P. uluguruense |
Binomial name | |
Plasmodium uluguruense | |
Description
The parasite was first described by Telford in 1984.[1]
Young schizonts are elongate with blunt ends and become oval or round following the second nuclear division. Mature schizonts are smaller than the host cell nuclei, produce 4-12 merozoites and are usually arranged as a fan.
Immature gametocytes like young schizonts are elongate with blunt ends. Mature gametocytes are usually oval and approximate the host cell nuclei in size. Their pigment granules concentrated in a single focus.
Geographical occurrence
This species is found in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania.
Clinical features and host pathology
This species infects the lizard Hemidactylus platycephalus.
References
- Telford, Jr S.R. (1984) Studies on African saurian malarias: Three Plasmodium species from gekkonid hosts J. Parasitol. 70 (3) 343-354