''Plasmodium tropiduri'' 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 blood-feeding insect host which then injects parasites into a vert ...

'' subgenus ''

Lacertaemoba ''Lacertamoeba'' is a subgenus of the genus ''Plasmodium'' — all of which are parasites. All species in this subgenus infect reptiles. Taxonomy This subgenus was created by Telford to refine the classification of species then given as '' Plas ...

''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. tropiduri'' has both

vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxon, taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () (chordates with vertebral column, backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the ...

and

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...

hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles. This species is closely related to ''

Plasmodium floridense ''Plasmodium floridense'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus '' Lacertaemoba''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. floridense'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards. Descri ...

'' and ''

Plasmodium minasense ''Plasmodium minasense'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Carinamoeba''. Like all ''Plasmodium'' species ''P. minasense'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards. Taxonomy T ...

''.

Taxonomy

The parasite was first described by Aragão and Neiva in 1909. It had been previous discovered by Carlos Chagas but not formally described. Later it was realised that this species was in fact a species complex. This complex was divided into a number of subspecies by Telford in 1979.

Subspecies

* ''Plasmodium tropiduri aquaticum'' is found in ''

Anolis lionotus ''Anolis lionotus'', the lion anole, is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is found in Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontin ...

'' and '' Anolis poecilopus'' in Panama and Costa Rica.

Schizont Apicomplexans, a group of intracellular parasites, have life cycle stages that allow them to survive the wide variety of environments they are exposed to during their complex life cycle. Each stage in the life cycle of an apicomplexan organism is ...

s are found mostly in pro-erythrocytes, are smaller than erythrocyte nuclei, have 4 to 14 nuclei and contain pigment.

Gametocyte 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''. Developme ...

s occur in erythrocytes, are smaller than erythrocyte nuclei and contain pigment. * ''Plasmodium tropiduri caribbense'' Telford, Johnson and Young, 1989 * ''Plasmodium tropiduri panamense'' is found in ''

Anolis biporcatus ''Anolis biporcatus'', also known as the neotropical green anole or giant green anole, is a species of anole Dactyloidae are a family of lizards commonly known as anoles () and native to warmer parts of the Americas, ranging from southeastern ...

'' in Panama. Schizonts occur mostly in pro-erythrocytes, are seldom pigmented and are larger in pro-erythrocytes than in erythrocytes They are smaller than erythrocyte nuclei and contain 4 to 18 nuclei. Gametocytes are slightly smaller than erythrocyte nuclei, and are more common in erythrocytes. * ''Plasmodium tropiduri tropiduri'' is found in ''

Tropidurus ''Tropidurus'' is a genus of reptiles. The genus includes many species of Neotropical ground lizards (family Tropiduridae). ''Tropidurus'' is the type genus of the family Tropiduridae. Geographic range and habitat Species in the genus ''Tropi ...

'' lizards including '' Tropidurus torquatus'' in Brazil, the Guianas and Venezuela.

s are larger than the erythrocyte nuclei and contain 8 to 22 nuclei in a rosette. Pigment is always present. Gametocytes are round or oval and are larger than the erythrocyte nuclei.

Description

This species may be able to develop in thrombocytes as well as erythrocytes.

Distribution

This species complex is found in Brazil, Costa Rica,

the Guianas The Guianas, sometimes called by the Spanish loan-word ''Guayanas'' (''Las Guayanas''), is a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories: * French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France ...

, Panama and Venezuela.

Vectors

Not known.

Hosts

This species has been found in ''

'', ''

Anolis cybotes ''Anolis cybotes'', the large-headed anole, Tiburon stout anole, or Hispaniolan stout anole, is a species of anole endemic to the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. Reports from other places likely refer to other species that were formerly included in ...

'', ''

'', '' Anolis poecilopus'' and '' Tropidurus torquatus''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plasmodium Tropiduri tropiduri