genus of parasitic protists that can cause malaria From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plasmodium, commonly known as the malaria parasite, is a large genus of parasitic protozoa. There are about 200 species.[1] Infection with these protozoans is called malaria, a deadly disease widespread in the tropics. The parasite always has two hosts in its life cycle: a mosquito vector and a vertebrate host.
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Plasmodium sporozoite | |
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The life-cycle is very complex. There is a sequence of different stages in the vector and the host.[2] These stages include:
The genus Plasmodium was first described in 1885. At least ten species infect humans. Other species infect other animals, including birds, reptiles and rodents, while 29 species infect non-human primates. The Apicomplexa – the phylum to which Plasmodium belongs – are thought to have originated within the Dinoflagellates – a large group of photosynthetic protozoa.
The most common forms of human malaria are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae. P. falciparum malaria, common in sub-Saharan Africa, is especially dangerous.
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