Plasmodium lemuris
Encyclopedia
Plasmodium lemuris is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium
subgenus Vinckeia
.
Like all Plasmodium species P. lemuris has both vertebrate
and insect
hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammal
s.
The infected erythrocyte is enlarged (+/- 10 micrometres) and distorted in shape and in many instances is almost completely filled by the parasite.
Young trophozoites are small and occupy three-tenths to four-tenths of the erythrocytes. The nucleus stains rose-red. Larger trophozoites are more irregular tending toward
amoeboidity.
Pigment is in granules and there is no stippling of the host cell.
The schizonts display irregularly shaped nuclei. The pigment is brown and clumped into a diffused mass.
The gametocytes are very large (11 x 7 micrometres) and irregular in shape. Their nuclei are band-like or lobed irregularly.
The macrogametocytes have lavender to purple cytoplasm. The pigment is made up of small dark brown granules within vacuoles.
The microgametocytes have red-staining nuclei and slate-gray cytoplasm. Their pigment is similar to that of the macrogametocytes.
s Lemur macaco macaco and Lemur collaris.
rather than to Plasmodium
. Clarification of this point awaits examintion of the organism's DNA
.
Plasmodium
Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic protists. Infection by these organisms is known as malaria. The genus Plasmodium was described in 1885 by Ettore Marchiafava and Angelo Celli. Currently over 200 species of this genus are recognized and new species continue to be described.Of the over 200 known...
subgenus Vinckeia
Vinckeia
Vinckeia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium - all of which are parastic protozoa. The subgenus Vinckeia was created by Garnham in 1964 to accommodate the mammalian parasites other than those infecting the primates.- Diagnostic features :...
.
Like all Plasmodium species P. lemuris has both vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
and insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s.
Description
This species was first described by Huff and Hoogstraal in 1963 in the black lemur Lemur collaris.The infected erythrocyte is enlarged (+/- 10 micrometres) and distorted in shape and in many instances is almost completely filled by the parasite.
Young trophozoites are small and occupy three-tenths to four-tenths of the erythrocytes. The nucleus stains rose-red. Larger trophozoites are more irregular tending toward
amoeboidity.
Pigment is in granules and there is no stippling of the host cell.
The schizonts display irregularly shaped nuclei. The pigment is brown and clumped into a diffused mass.
The gametocytes are very large (11 x 7 micrometres) and irregular in shape. Their nuclei are band-like or lobed irregularly.
The macrogametocytes have lavender to purple cytoplasm. The pigment is made up of small dark brown granules within vacuoles.
The microgametocytes have red-staining nuclei and slate-gray cytoplasm. Their pigment is similar to that of the macrogametocytes.
Clinical features and host pathology
The known hosts include the lemurLemur
Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
s Lemur macaco macaco and Lemur collaris.
Note
This species may belong to the genus HaemoproteusHaemoproteus
Haemoproteus is a genus of protozoa that are parasitic in birds, reptiles and amphibians. Its name is derived from Greek: Haima - blood and Proteus - a sea god who had the power of assuming different shapes. The name Haemoproteus was first used in the description of Haemoproteus columbae in the...
rather than to Plasmodium
Plasmodium
Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic protists. Infection by these organisms is known as malaria. The genus Plasmodium was described in 1885 by Ettore Marchiafava and Angelo Celli. Currently over 200 species of this genus are recognized and new species continue to be described.Of the over 200 known...
. Clarification of this point awaits examintion of the organism's DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
.