Plasmodium uluguruense

Plasmodium uluguruense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.

Plasmodium uluguruense
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. uluguruense
Binomial name
Plasmodium uluguruense
Telford, 1984

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

Description

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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

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This species is found in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania.

Clinical features and host pathology

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This species infects the lizard Hemidactylus platycephalus.

References

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  1. ^ Telford, Jr S.R. (1984) Studies on African saurian malarias: Three Plasmodium species from gekkonid hosts J. Parasitol. 70 (3) 343-354