Plasmodium holaspi
Encyclopedia
Plasmodium holaspi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium
.
Like all Plasmodium species P. holaspi has both vertebrate
and insect
hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptile
s.
Schizonts are oblong or formed as rosette
s and are approximately the same size as the host cell nucleus.
Each produces 8-18 merozoites.
Gametocytes are elongate and are approximately twice the size of host cell nuclei. They have prominent and irregular pigment granules.
Young gametocytes and the asexual stages almost always occupy marginal positions in host cells.
Maturing gametocytes contain large masses or blocks of chromatin
.
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...
.
Like all Plasmodium species P. holaspi 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 reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s.
Description
The parasite was first described by Telford in 1986.Schizonts are oblong or formed as rosette
Rosette (schizont appearance)
The rosette is a formation characteristic of schizonts in infection by the reptile parasites Plasmodium tropiduri and P. holaspi or by the fish parasite Babesiosoma.It is also seen in the case of human parasite Plasmodium malariae....
s and are approximately the same size as the host cell nucleus.
Each produces 8-18 merozoites.
Gametocytes are elongate and are approximately twice the size of host cell nuclei. They have prominent and irregular pigment granules.
Young gametocytes and the asexual stages almost always occupy marginal positions in host cells.
Maturing gametocytes contain large masses or blocks of chromatin
Chromatin
Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins that make up the contents of the nucleus of a cell. The primary functions of chromatin are; to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow mitosis and meiosis and prevent DNA damage, and to control gene...
.