Biology:Plasmodium fallax

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Short description: Species of single-celled organism

Plasmodium fallax
Scientific classification edit
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Eukaryota
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Diaphoretickes
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: SAR
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Alveolata
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Apicomplexa
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Aconoidasida
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Haemospororida
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Plasmodiidae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Plasmodium
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: <div style="display:inline" class="script error: no such module "taxobox ranks".">P. fallax
Binomial name
Plasmodium fallax
Schwetz, 1930

Plasmodium fallax is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.

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

Taxonomy

The parasite was first described by Schwetz in 1930.

Distribution

This species is found in Uganda, Africa.

Hosts

In Uganda a vector has been identified - the mosquito Aedes albopictus.

Among its vertebrate hosts are the pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum), turkeys (Meleagris species) and the helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris).

Plasmodium fallax has periods in which the parasite leaves its host cell and travels to find a new host cell. This is very risky because the parasite will become inactive and unable to invade a new cell if it does not quickly find a host.[1]

References

  1. Weathersby, A. Burns (February 1987). "Plasmodium fallax: The Invasion of Host Cells by Exoerythrocytic Merozoites in Tissue Culture". The Journal of Parasitology 73 (1): 77–79. doi:10.2307/3282346. PMID 3572668. 

Further reading

Wikidata ☰ Q14473306 entry