Plasmodium circularis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.
Like all Plasmodium species P. circularis has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
| Plasmodium circularis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Protista |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemosporida |
| Family: | Plasmodiidae |
| Genus: | Plasmodium |
| Species: | P. circularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium circularis |
|
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The parasite was first described by Telford and Stein in 2000.[1]
This species is found in Australia and infects the Australian skink Egernia stokesii.
The immature schizonts encircle the host cell nuclei and form an unbroken ring from apparent fusion of the attenuated ends.
Mature schizonts contract into halteridial or dumb bell-shaped forms 15.6 X 4.3 micrometres (length x width 66.2 µm^2) with 19-52 nuclei.
Rounded or oval gametocytes are 9.0 x 7.3 µm. Length x width is 66.9 µm^2 and length divdided by width is 1.24.
The gametocyte length x width is 2.63 times the host erythrocyte nucleus size and 1.79 the uninfected erythrocyte nucleus.