Plasmodium minasense

The original description of this species was by Carini and Rudolphi in 1912Carini, A. y Rudoph, M. (1912) Sur quelques hematozoaires de Lézards au Brésil. Bull. Soc. Path. exot. 5: 592. in a lizard Mabuia agilis. Since then a number of subspecies of P. minasense have been described.

The diagnostic features of P. minasense are:

• The schizonts are smaller than normal erythrocyte nuclei.
• Schzonts produce 4-8 merozoites
• The gametocytes are equal to or smaller than erythrocyte nuclei in size and round in shape
• They infect hosts of the lizard families Scincidae, Iguanidae and Teiidae in the Neotropics

It is currently thought that P. minasense is closely related to Plasmodium floridense and Plasmodium tropiduri. Like much of the taxonomy in this genus this opinion may need to be revised once the species have been subjected to DNA analysis.

Subspecies are currently named on the basis of the hosts infected. This criterion may be subject to revision when DNA based taxonomy is applied to this species complex. The subspecies currently recognised include:

P. minasense anolisi

P. minasense calcaratae

P. minasense capitoi

P. minasense carinii

P. minasense diminutivum

P. minasense minasense

P. minasense plicae

P. minasense tegui

Described by Telford in 1979 {{cite journal|last1=Telford Jr.|first1=S. R.|title=A taxonomic revision of small neotropical saurian malarias allied to Plasmodium minasense|journal=Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée|volume=54|issue=4|year=1979|pages=409–422|url=https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/abs/1979/04/parasite1979544p409/parasite1979544p409.html0|doi=10.1051/parasite/1979544409|pmid=533109|doi-access=free}} {{open access}}

Found in Panama, Central America and the Caribbean.

Known hosts include the lizards Anolis cybotes, Anolis distichus, Anolis frenatus and Anolis limifrons

This subspecies was described by Telford and Telford in 2003.Telford S. R. Jr. and Telford S.R. III (2003) Rediscovery and redescription of Plasmodium pifanoi and description of two additional Plasmodium parasites of Venezuelan lizards. J. Parasitol. 89(2) 362–368

It is characterized by very small, usually fan-shaped, schizonts that average 3.4 × 2.6 micrometres (range: 2.5 – 4.5 × 2.0 – 3.0). The schizonts produce 3.9 (range: 3 – 4) merozoites.

The gametocytes are spherical or ovoid averaging 6.7 × 5.0 micrometres (range: 4.5 – 9.0 × 3.0 – 7.0) in size with a length-width product of 33.7 (range: 15 – 54) and a length/width ratio of 1.4 (range: 1.0 – 2.3). By dimension they are not sexual dimorphic.

Found in Venezuela, South America.

The only known host is the lizard Kentropyx calcarata

This subspecies was described by Telford in 1979.

Found in Panama, Central America.

The only known host is the lizard Anolis capito

This subspecies was described by Leger and Mouzels in 1917

Found in coastal South America.

The only known host is the lizard Iguana iguana

This subspecies was described by Telford in 1973

Found in Panama, Central America.

The only known host is the lizard Ameiva ameiva

This is recognised as the type species. It was described by Carini and Rudolphi in 1912 in a lizard Mabuya agilis.

Found in Brazil, Central America.

Known hosts include the lizards Mabuya agilis and Mabuya mabouya.

This subspecies was described by Telford in 1979.

Found in Guyana, South America.

The only known host is the lizard Plica umbra

Found in Venezuela, South America.

The only known host is the lizard Tupinambis teguixin

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minasense