''Plasmodium bubalis'' is a parasite of the genus ''

Plasmodium ''Plasmodium'' is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. The life cycles of ''Plasmodium'' species involve development in a Hematophagy, blood-feeding insect host (biology), host which then inj ...

'' (subgenus ''

Vinckeia ''Vinckeia'' is a subgenus of the genus ''Plasmodium'' — all of which are parasitic Alveolata, alveolates. The subgenus ''Vinckeia'' was created by Cyril Garnham in 1964 to accommodate the mammalian parasites other than those infecting the prim ...

'') which causes

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

in buffalo in India.

Description

Like other ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. bubalis'' infects the red blood cells of its mammalian host. In the red blood cells, the parasite has several stages. The

trophozoite A trophozoite (G. ''trope'', nourishment + ''zoon'', animal) is the activated, feeding stage in the life cycle of certain protozoa such as malaria-causing ''Plasmodium falciparum'' and those of the ''Giardia'' group. The complementary form of the t ...

stages begin as amoeboid in shape and measuring 1.2 to 1.8 μm. Larger trophozoites appear spherical and can measure up to 5.0 μm.

Gametocytes A gametocyte is a eukaryotic germ cell that divides by mitosis into other gametocytes or by meiosis into gametids during gametogenesis. Male gametocytes are called '' spermatocytes'', and female gametocytes are called '' oocytes''. Development ...

occupy the entire red blood cell, and measure 6 to 8 μm in diameter.

Role in disease

''P. bubalis'' causes malaria in buffalo. Infected buffalo show fever and decreased appetite, as well as anemia, pale mucous membranes, and reduced

rumen The rumen, also known as a paunch, is the largest stomach compartment in ruminants. The rumen and the reticulum make up the reticulorumen in ruminant animals. The diverse microbial communities in the rumen allows it to serve as the primary si ...

motility.

History

The parasite was first described by Sheather in 1919 in buffalo (''

Bubalus bubalis The water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis''), also called domestic water buffalo, Asian water buffalo and Asiatic water buffalo, is a large bovid originating in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Today, it is also kept in Italy, the Balkans ...

'') in India.Sheather A (1919) J. Confr. Path. Ther. 32, 223 Since then there have been a small number of case reports also describing ''P. bubalis'' infections of buffalo.

References

bubalis bubalis {{plasmodium-stub