Plasmodium tejerai
Plasmodium tejerai is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Haemamoeba.
Like all Plasmodium species P. tejerai has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Plasmodium tejerai | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Protista |
Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
Class: | Aconoidasida |
Order: | Haemosporida |
Family: | Plasmodiidae |
Genus: | Plasmodium |
Species: | P. tejerai |
Binomial name | |
Plasmodium tejerai | |
Description
The parasite was first described by Gabaldon and Ulloa in 1977.
Geographical occurrence
This parasite is found in Brazil and Venezuela.
Vectors
Not known.
Clinical features and host pathology
This organism infects the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and the South American penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus).[1]
Morphologically this parasite resembles Plasmodium relictum closely. In the penguin infection may be fatal with splenomegaly,hepatomegaly, hydropericardium and pulmonary oedema. Tissue meronts may occur in the macrophages and endothelial cells of multiple organs.
References
- ↑ Silveira P, Belo NO, Lacorte G, Kolesnikovas CK, Vanstreels RE, Steindel M, Catao-Dias JL, Valkiunas G, Braga EM (2012) Parasitological and new molecular-phylogenetic characterization of the malaria parasite Plasmodium tejerai in South American penguins. Parasitol Int pii: S1383-5769(12)00164-X. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.12.004