Plasmodium balli is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

Plasmodium balli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemospororida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Species:
P. balli
Binomial name
Plasmodium balli
Telford, 1969

Like all Plasmodium species it has vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts are lizards; the insect vector is not yet known.

Description

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Telford first described Plasmodium balli in 1969.[1]

The host's proerythrocytes and normoblasts are more commonly parasitized than erythrocytes.

Pigment is uncommon but when present, it consists of a minute dot.

Enucleated host cells are common.

The gametocytes are large and elongated. Hypertrophy, distortion and lysis of host cell nuclei may result from parasitization of immature blood cells by this stage.

The schizonts produced up to 100 merozoites.

Geographic occurrence

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This parasite is found in the Caribbean and Central America.

Clinical features and host pathology

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Host record:

Anole lizards - Anolis limifrons, Anolis lionotus and Anolis poecilopus

References

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  1. ^ Telford SR Jr. (1969) A new Saurian malarial parasite Plasmodium balli from Panama. J. Protozool. 16(3):431-437

Further reading

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  • Telford, Sam (1969). "A New Saurian Malarial Parasite Plasmodium Balli From Panama". Journal of Protozoology. 16 (3): 431–437. doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.1969.tb02295.x. PMID 5387947.