Plasmodium unalis
Plasmodium unalis is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Novyella.
Like all Plasmodium species P. unalis has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
| Plasmodium unalis | |
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| Species: | P. unalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium unalis | |
Description
This species is most similar to Plasmodium vaughani.
It was described in 2013 by Mantilla et al.[1]
Geographical occurrence
This species occurs in Colombia. It may also be present in other countries in Americas.
Vectors
Not known.
Clinical features and host pathology
This species infects the great thrush (Turdus fuscater).
It is characterized by
- the presence of a single large, circular shaped pigment granule in the erythrocytic trophozoites and meronts
- the presence of prominent vacuoles in trophozoites and growing meronts
- the presence of predominantly fan shaped erythrocytic meronts
References
- ^ Mantilla JS, González AD, Valkiūnas G, Moncada LI, Matta NE. Description and molecular characterization of Plasmodium (Novyella) unalis sp. nov. from the Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater) in highland of Colombia. Parasitol Res