TABLE OF CONTENTS
Family Plasmodiidae: Characteristics, Classification & Important Genera
The family Plasmodiidae comprises obligate intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. Members of this family have a heteroxenous life cycle, with asexual reproduction occurring in vertebrate hosts and sexual reproduction taking place in blood-sucking arthropod vectors. The family includes several medically and veterinary important genera, particularly Plasmodium, which is responsible for malaria in birds, mammals, and humans.
Members of the family Plasmodiidae are heteroxenous. Asexual reproduction (schizogony) occurs in the vertebrate host, while sexual reproduction (gametogony and sporogony) occurs in blood-sucking arthropods.
The macrogamont and microgamont develop independently; i.e., there is no syzygy, and each microgamont produces eight flagellated microgametes. The zygote is motile (ookinete), and the sporozoites are naked.
The conoid is absent in sporozoites and merozoites. Members of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus form the pigment haemozoin from host cell hemoglobin.
Important Genera in the Family Plasmodiidae
- Plasmodium
- Haemoproteus
- Akiba (Leucocytozoon)
Species of Plasmodium
- Plasmodium gallinaceum in birds
- Plasmodium bubalis in buffaloes
- Plasmodium falciparum in humans
- Plasmodium vivax in humans
- Plasmodium ovale in humans
- Plasmodium malariae in humans
