Plasmodium cuculus

Plasmodium cuculus is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

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

Description
The parasite was first identified by Zhu, He and Miao in 2002.

This species has not yet been described. The species was identified from a DNA sequence from cytochrome b. Given the lack of DNA sequences from many of the known bird species this may turn out to be a junior synonom of a previously described known species.

Geographical occurrence
This 'species' was isolated in China.

Clinical features and host pathology
This 'species' was isolated from the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).