Plasmodium lionatum

Plasmodium lionatum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Asiamoeba.

Like all Plasmodium species P. achiotense has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.

Plasmodium lionatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Protista
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemosporida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Species: P. lionatum
Binomial name
Plasmodium lionatum

Description

The parasite was first described by Telford in 1982.[1]

The asexual stages rarely disturb the host cell. The gametocytes may distort the cell or displace the nucleus.

Mature schizonts are 4.0 - 6.0 micrometres x 1.5 - 3.0 micrometres in size and give rise to 4-6 merozoites. Schizonts tend to lie lateral to the nucleus.

The mature gametocytes vary in size: 5.0 - 12.0 x 2.0 - 6.0 micrometres and tend to be elongated in shape.

Geographical occurrence

This species is found in Thailand.

Clinical features and host pathology

The only known host is the flying gecko (Ptychozoon lionatum Also they infect The Eastern Screech owl

References

  1. SR. Telford, Jr. (1982) Plasmodium lionatum sp. n., a Parasite of the Flying Gecko, Ptychozoon lionatum, in Thailand. J. Parasitol 68(6) 1154-1157

Further reading

Telford, Sam (December 1982). "PLASMODIUM-LIONATUM SP-N, A PARASITE OF THE FLYING GECKO, PTYCHOZOON-LIONATUM, IN THAILAND". The Journal of Parasitology 68 (6): 1154–1157. doi:10.2307/3281110.