Plasmodium iguanae

Plasmodium iguanae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

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

Description
The parasite was first described by Telford in 1980.

The schizonts have 6 to 25 nuclei and are heavily pigmented when in erythrocytes.

The gametocytes are round to oval, prominently pigmented and exceed the host cell nucleus in size, are more commonly found in pro-erythrocytes than in mature cells.

Geographical occurrence
This species is found in Venezuela.

Clinical features and host pathology
The only known host species is the lizard Iguana iguana iguana