Plasmodium cnemaspi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba.
Like all Plasmodium species P. cnemaspi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.
| Plasmodium cnemaspi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Protista |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemosporida |
| Family: | Plasmodiidae |
| Genus: | Plasmodium |
| Species: | P. cnemaspi |
| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium cnemaspi |
|
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The parasite was first described by Telford in 1984.[1]
The schizonts are usually round, oval or oblong, exceed the host cell nuclei in size and produce 8-20 merozoites.
The gametocytes are elongate or oval and have dispersed pigment averaging twice the size of host cell nuclei in size. In chronic infections, gametocytes may become rounded and cause both host cell and nucleus to shrink.
This species is found in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania.
This species infects the lizard Cnemaspis africana.