Plasmodium gracilis

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Plasmodium gracilis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

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

Plasmodium gracilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Protista Phylum: Apicomplexa Class: Aconoidasida Order: Haemosporida Family: Plasmodiidae Genus: Plasmodium Species: P. gracilis
Binomial name
Plasmodium gracilis

Contents 1 Description 2 Geographical occurrence 3 Clinical features and host pathology 4 References

[edit] Description

The parasite was first described by Telford and Wellehan in 2005.^[1]

Neither the schizonts nor the gametocytes have any effect upon dimensions of host erythrocytes or their nuclei.

The schizonts average 4.3 x 3.5 microns (range: 3.0 - 6.0 x 3.0 - 5.0) in size.

They produce on average 4.9 merozoites (range: 3.0 - 8.0) which are usually arranged as a fan.

The gametocytes average 5.9 x 5.5 microns (range: 5.0 - 6.6 x 5.0 - 6.0). The length x width product is 31.9 micron^2 (range: 25 - 40) and the length/width ratio is 1.06 (1.0 - 1.2).

The gametocytes are not sexually dimorphic in either size or shape.

[edit] Geographical occurrence

This species is found in New Guinea.

[edit] Clinical features and host pathology

This species infects the crocodile skink Tribolonotus gracilis.

[edit] References