Plasmodium clelandi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.
Like all Plasmodium species P. clelandi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
| Plasmodium clelandi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Protista |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemosporida |
| Family: | Plasmodiidae |
| Genus: | Plasmodium |
| Species: | P. clelandi |
| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium clelandi |
|
Contents |
This species was described by Manawadu in 1972.[1] It was named after the eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon William Paton Cleland.
The host cells are not altered in either shape or size by the asexual stages of the parasite. Pigment is rare and a vacuole may be present.
The schizonts typically give rise to 8 merozoites.
The gametocytes are elongated with an irregular edge. They tend to encircle the nucleus and the host cell tends to become oval in shape.
Male gametocytes measure 20 micrometres x 2 micrometres and possess 6-8 brown pigment granules.
Female gametocytes measure 18 micrometres x 4 micrometres. The cytoplasm tends to be more basophilic than the male gametocytes. 10-12 pigment granules are found in the cytoplasm.
This species occurs in Sri Lanka.
This species infects the Bengal monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) and land monitor lizard (Varanus cepedianus).