Plasmodium lionatum

Plasmodium lionatum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

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

Description
The parasite was first described by Telford in 1982.

The asexual stages rarey disturb the host cell. The gametocytes may distort the cell or displace the nucleus.

Mature schizonts are 4.0 - 6.0 micrometres x 1.5 - 3.0 micrometres in size and give rise to 4-6 merozoites. Schizonts tend to lie lateral to the nucleus.

The mature gametocytes vary in size: 5.0 - 12.0 x 2.0 - 6.0 micrometres and tend to be elongated in shape.

Geographical occurrence
This species is found in Thailand.

Clinical features and host pathology
The only known host is the flying gecko (Ptychozoon lionatum)