Plasmodium

Plasmodium /Plas·mo·di·um/ (plaz-mo´de-um) a genus of sporozoa parasitic in the red blood cells of animals and humans. Four species, P. falci´parum, P. mala´riae, P. ova´le, and P. vi´vax, cause the four specific types of malaria in humans.

---

plasmodium /plas·mo·di·um/ (plaz-mo´de-um) pl. plasmo´dia  

1. a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

2. a multinucleate continuous mass of protoplasm formed by aggregation and fusion of myxamebae.plasmo´dial

---

Plasmodium

n.

A genus of protozoans that are parasites of the red blood cells of vertebrates and include the causative agents of malaria.

---

plas·mo·di·um (plz-md-m)

n. pl. plas·mo·di·a (-d-)

1. A multinucleate mass of cytoplasm formed by the aggregation of a number of amoeboid cells, as that characteristic of the vegetative phase of the slime molds.

2. A protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, which includes the parasites that cause malaria.

---

Plasmodium

[plazmō′dē·əm] pl. plasmodia

Etymology: Gk, plasma + eidos, form

a genus of protozoa, several species of which cause malaria, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Plasmodium falciparum causes falciparum malaria, the most severe form of the disease; P. malariae causes quartan malaria; P. ovale causes mild tertian malaria with oval red blood cells; and P. vivax causes common tertian malaria. See also Anopheles, blackwater fever.

---

Plasmodium

a genus of apicomplexan protozoa in the family Plasmodiidae parasitic in the blood cells of animals and humans; the malarial parasite. See also avian malaria.

---

Plasmodium berghei

occurs naturally in tree rats; transmissible experimentally to other rodents.

Plasmodium brasilianum

occurs in several monkey species, transmissible experimentally to humans and marmosets.

Plasmodium cathemerium

occurs in passerine birds including sparrows, blackbirds.

Plasmodium chabaudi

occurs in tree rats, transmissible to mice.

Plasmodium circumflexum

parasitizes a wide range of birds including passerines, Canada goose.

Plasmodium coatneyi

occurs in cynomolgus monkey; transmissible to other monkeys.

Plasmodium cynomolgi

occurs in a wide range of monkeys; transmissible to humans causing tertian type malaria.

Plasmodium durae

occurs in turkeys, transmissible to ducks.

Plasmodium elongatum

transmissible experimentally to sparrow, canaries, ducks.

Plasmodium eylesi

found in gibbon monkeys.

Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax

the causes of the four specific types of human malaria. They are transmitted to the bloodstream of humans by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes. The sporozoites migrate and are transported via the blood stream to the liver, where they develop and multiply within the parenchymal cells as merozoites, which then burst the liver cells and invade erythrocytes. Some of the merozoites develop into gametocytes, which are ingested by mosquitoes, beginning the sexual stage, which ends with the development of sporozoites.

Plasmodium fallax

occurs in guinea fowl; transmissible to other birds.

Plasmodium gallinaceum

occurs in fowls and transmissible to some other birds; many are resistant.

Plasmodium gonderi

occurs in mandrills, mangabeys, rhesus monkeys.

Plasmodium griffithsi

occurs in turkeys.

Plasmodium hexamerium

found in passerine birds.

Plasmodium inui

found in several species of monkeys.

Plasmodium juxtanucleare

occurs in fowls; transmitted experimentally to turkeys.

Plasmodium knowlesi

occurs in several species of monkeys.

Plasmodium lophurae

occurs in pheasants; experimentally transmitted to chickens and ducklings.

Plasmodium reichenowi

occurs in chimpanzee and gorilla.

Plasmodium relictum

occurs in a variety of bird species.

Plasmodium rouxi

found in sparrows and finches.

Plasmodium schwetzi

occurs in chimpanzee and gorilla; transmissible experimentally to humans.

Plasmodium simium

occurs in howler monkeys and humans.

Plasmodium vaughani

found in many bird species.

Plasmodium vinckei

occurs in a variety of rat species; transmissible to mice.

---

plasmodium

pl. plasmodia [Gr.]

1. an ampicomplexan protozoon parasite of the genus Plasmodium; includes the avian malaria protozoa.

2. a multinucleate continuous mass of protoplasm.