Fallisia is a genus of the family Plasmodiidae.

Fallisia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemospororida
Family: Garniidae
Genus: Fallisia
Species

Subgenus Fallisia

Subgenus Plasmodiodes

The genus was created by Lainson, Landau and Shaw in 1974. A revision of the genus Plasmodium by Levine in 1985 considered this subgenus to be a synonym of Plasmodium. The description of a new species Plasmodium siamense by Telford in 1986 lead to a resurrection of this as a subgenus. Further revision of its taxonomic status has led to its elevation to genus status.

Species in this genus infect birds and lizards.

Diagnostic features

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Species in this genus have the following characteristics:

The schizonts and gametocytes are found in the circulating leukocytes and thromobcytes.

Pigment is absent.

Subgenera

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There are two recognised subgena - Fallisia Telford 1998 and Plasmodiodes Gabaldon, Ulloa & Zerpa 1985. Species in Fallisia infect lizards and those in Plasmodiodes infect birds.

Until confirmed by molecular methods this classification should be regarded as tentative.

Host distribution

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These species infect lizards of the Iguanidae and Teiidae. They may also infect the Scincidae.

Distribution

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These parasites are found in the Neotropical area.

References

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  1. ^ Paperna, I.; Landau, I. (1990). "Fallisia copemani n. sp. (Haemosporidia: Garniidae) from the australian skink Carlia rhomboidalis". Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée. 65 (1): 16–21. doi:10.1051/parasite/1990651016. ISSN 0003-4150.