Plasmodium octamerium explained

Plasmodium octamerium is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.

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

Taxonomy

The parasite was first described by Manwell in 1968.^[1]

Distribution

This species was described in Africa and has also been reported in Hong Kong.

Hosts

Known hosts for this parasite include the pintail whydah bird (Vidua macroura) and the greater blue-eared glossy starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus).^[2]

Notes and References

1. Manwell R. D. (1968) Plasmodium octamerium n. sp., an avian malaria parasite from the pintail whydah bird Vidua macroura. J. Protozool. 15(4):680-685
2. Paperna I., Martelli P. (2008) Haemosporidian infections in captive exotic glossy starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus in Hong Kong. Folia Parasitol (Praha)