Plasmodium chiricahuae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Paraplasmodium.
Plasmodium chiricahuae | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
Clade: | SAR |
Clade: | Alveolata |
Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
Class: | Aconoidasida |
Order: | Haemospororida |
Family: | Plasmodiidae |
Genus: | Plasmodium |
Species: | P. chiricahuae
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Binomial name | |
Plasmodium chiricahuae Telford, 1970
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Like all Plasmodium species P. chiricahuae has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
Description
editThe schizonts rarely exceed the size of the nucleus of the cell and produce 4-10 merozoites.
The gametocytes are large (3-6 times the size of the nucleus of an uninfected cell) and almost fill the erythrocyte.
Distribution
editThis species is found in the south-western United States and probably also in northern Mexico.
Hosts
editThis species infects spiny lizards of the genus Sceloporus.
References
editFurther reading
edit- Fuxjager, Matthew J.; Foufopoulos, Johannes; Diaz-Uriarte, Ramon; Marler, Catherine A. (February 2011). "Functionally opposing effects of testosterone on two different types of parasite: implications for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis". Functional Ecology. 25 (1): 132–138. Bibcode:2011FuEco..25..132F. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01784.x.