Plasmodium clelandi

Plasmodium clelandi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
(unranked):	Diaphoretickes
Clade:	SAR
Infrakingdom:	Alveolata
Phylum:	Apicomplexa
Class:	Aconoidasida
Order:	Haemospororida
Family:	Plasmodiidae
Genus:	Plasmodium
Species:	P. clelandi
Binomial name
Plasmodium clelandi Manawadu, 1972

Plasmodium clelandi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.

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

Description[]

This species was described by Manawadu in 1972.^[1] It was named after the eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon William Paton Cleland.

The host cells are not altered in either shape or size by the asexual stages of the parasite. Pigment is rare and a vacuole may be present.

The schizonts typically give rise to 8 merozoites.

The gametocytes are elongated with an irregular edge. They tend to encircle the nucleus and the host cell tends to become oval in shape.

Male gametocytes measure 20 micrometres x 2 micrometres and possess 6-8 brown pigment granules.

Female gametocytes measure 18 micrometres x 4 micrometres. The cytoplasm tends to be more basophilic than the male gametocytes. 10-12 pigment granules are found in the cytoplasm.

Distribution[]

This species occurs in Sri Lanka.

Hosts[]

This species infects the Bengal monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) and land monitor lizard ().

References[]

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