Plasmodium species infecting reptiles
Over 90 species and subspecies of Plasmodium infect lizards. They have been reported from over 3200 species of lizard but only 29 species of snake. Three species - P. pessoai, P. tomodoni and P. wenyoni - infect snakes. These species belong to the subgenera Asiamoeba, Carinamoeba, Fallisia, Garnia, Lacertamoeba, Ophidiella, Paraplasmodium and Sauramoeba.[1] Additionalspecies continue to be described.[2]
Host records
- P. bailli - Anolis lizards (Anolis limifrons, Anolis lionotus and Anolis poecilopus)
- P. beebei - the gecko (Gonatodes taniae)
- P. brygooi - short-horned chameleon (Chamaeleo brevicornis)
- P. chiricahuae - fence lizard (Sceloporus jarrovi)
- P. diploglossi - Anguid lizard (Diploglossus fasciatus)
- P. guyannense - the iguanid lizard (Plica plica)
- P. hispaniolae - Anolis lizards
- P. holaspi - African flying lizard (Holaspis guentheri)
- P. kentropyxi - teiid lizard (Kentropyx calcarata)
- P. lainsoni - the gecko (Phyllodactylus ventralis)
- P. lepidoptiformis - teiid lizard (Kentropyx calcarata)
- P. lionatum - the flying gecko (Ptychozoon lionatum)
- P. lygosomae - skink (Lygosoma moco)
- P. minasense calcaratae - teiid lizard (Kentropyx calcarata)
- P. minasense plicae - olive tree runner lizard (Plica umbra)
- P. pelaezi - the iguanid lizard (Urosaurus bicarinatus bicarinatus)
- P. scorzai - the gecko Phyllodactylus ventralis
- P. tropiduri - iguanid lizard (Tropidurus torquatus), Anolis lizards (Anolis biporcatus,Anolis cybotes, Anolis frenatus, Anolis limifrons, Anolis lionotus, Anolis pentaprion and Anolis poecilopus), teiid lizard (Kentropyx calcarata)
- P. tropiduri aquaticum - Anolis lizards (Anolis lionotus and Anolis poecilopus)
- P. tropiduri tropiduri - Tropidurus hispidus
- P. uluguruense - African gecko (Hemidactylus platycephalus)
Subspecies
- P. fairchildi - P. fairchildi fairchildi and P. fairchildi hispaniolae
- P. lygosomae - P. lygosomae nucleoversans and P. lygosomae nucleoversans
- P. minasense - P. minasense anolisi, P. minasense capitoi, P. minasense carinii,
- P. minasense diminutivum, P. minasense minasense, P. minasense plicae, and P. minasense tegui.[6] An additional subspecies P. minasense calcaratae has also been described.[7]
- P. traguli - P. traguli traguli and P. traguli memmina.
- P. tropiduri - P. tropiduri aquaticum, P. tropiduri panamense and P. tropiduri tropiduri.[6]
Vectors
Compared with those known for the species infecting humans, few vectors are known for these species.
Culex:
- Culex fatigans - P. rhadinurum
Aedes:
Interrelatedness
- P. floridense is closely related to P. tropiduri and P. minasense
References
- ^ Schall J.J. (2000) Transmission success of the malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum into its vector: role of gametocyte density and sex ratio. Parasitol. 121 (6):575-580
- ^ Perkins S.L., Austin C. (2008) Four new species of Plasmodium from New Guinea lizards: Integrating morphology and molecules. J. Parasitol.
- ^ Southgate B.A. (1970) Plasmodium (Sauramoeba) giganteum in Agama cyanogaster: a new host record. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 64(1):12-13
- ^ Garnham P.C., Telford S.R. Jr. (1984) A new malaria parasite Plasmodium (Sauramoeba) heischi in skinks (Mabuya striata) from Nairobi, with a brief discussion of the distribution of malaria parasites in the family Scincidae. J Protozool. 31(4):518-521.
- ^ Telford S.R. (1986) Fallisia parasites (Haemosporidia: Plasmodiidae) from the flying lizard, Draco maculatus (Agamidae) in Thailand. J. Parasitol. 72(5):766-769
- ^ a b Telford S.R. Jr. (1979) A taxonomic revision of small neotropical saurian Malarias allied to Plasmodium minasense. Ann. Parasitol. Hum. Comp. 54(4):409-422
- ^ Telford S.R. Jr., Telford S.R. 3rd. (2003) Rediscovery and redescription of Plasmodium pifanoi and description of two additional Plasmodium parasites of Venezuelan lizards. J. Parasitol. 89(2):362-368