Plasmodium circumflexum
Plasmodium circumflexum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
Like all Plasmodium species P. circumflexum has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
| Plasmodium circumflexum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Protista |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemosporida |
| Family: | Plasmodiidae |
| Genus: | Plasmodium |
| Species: | P. circumflexum |
| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium circumflexum | |
Description
The parasite was first described by Kikuth in 1931 in a juniper thrush. It may have been the same species previous described by Labbe in 1894 who thought it was a species of Haemoproteus.
Schizonts: these are large and when mature may entirely encircle the erythrocyte nucleus.
Merozoites: each schizont gives rise to 13-30 merozoites (mean 19.8: standard deviation 5).
Gametocytes: these are large and when mature may entirely encircle the erythrocyte nucleus.
Geographical occurrence
This parasite is found in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United States.
Vectors
Culiseta morsitans
Mansonia crassipes
Theobaldia annulata
Sporogeny but not transmission has been recorded in Mansonia perturbans.
Clinical features and host pathology
In wild guinea fowl the pathological features in acute cases include anaemia, jaundice and splenomegaly; in the subacute cases severe splenomegaly, right ventricular hypertrophy and multifocal interstitial myocarditis.[1]
Host records
P. circumflexum has been recorded infecting the following hosts:
- Shikra (Accipiter badius)[2]
- Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)[3]
- Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus),[4]
- Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus),
- Wood duck (Aix sponsa),
- Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria),
- Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata),
- Cape May warbler (Dendroica tigrina),
- Gray cat bird (Dumella carolinensis),
- Slate colour junicao (Junico hymenalis),
- Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia),
- Common merganser (Mergus merganser),
- Cowbird (Molothrus ater ater),
- Finch (Richmondena cardinalis cardinalis),
- Trumpeter swan (Olor buccinator),
- Chestnut-tailed starling (Sturnus malabaricus),
- Brown thrasher (Toxostomar ufum),
- White throated sparrow (Tromotrichio albicolis),
- American robin (Turdus migratorius),
- Juniper thrush (Turdus pilaris),
- Wild guineafowl (Numida meleagris)[5]
- White throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
References
- ↑ Huchzermeyer F.W. and Van Der Vyver F.H. (1991) Isolation of Plasmodium circumflexum from wild guineafowl (Numida meleagris) and the experimental infection in domestic poultry. Avian Path.20(2) 213 - 223
- ↑ Salakij J, Lertwatcharasarakul P, Kasorndorkbua C, Salakij C (2012) Plasmodium circumflexum in a Shikra (Accipiter badius): phylogeny and ultra-structure of the haematozoa. Jpn J Vet Res 60(2-3):105-109
- ↑ Tanigawa M, Sato Y, Ejiri H, Imura T, Chiba R, Yamamoto H, Kawaguchi M, Tsuda Y, Murata K, Yukawa M (2012) Molecular identification of avian haemosporidia in wild birds and mosquitoes on Tsushima Island, Japan. J Vet Med Sci
- ↑ Kirkpatrick CE, Lauer DM. (1985) Hematozoa of raptors from southern New Jersey and adjacent areas. J Wildl. Dis. 21(1):1-6.
- ↑ Earle RA, Horak IG, Huchzermeyer FW, Bennett GF, Braack LE, Penzhorn BL. (1991) The prevalence of blood parasites in helmeted guineafowls, Numida meleagris, in the Kruger National Park. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 58(3):145-147
External links
- Picture of eythroctic forms - http://workforce.cup.edu/Buckelew/Plasmodium%20circumflexum.htm