Plasmodium polare

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Plasmodium polare is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Papernaia.

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

Description

The parasite was first described by Manwell in 1934.Manwell (1934) The Anatomical Record 60(4): 1 - 101

It is relatively small and produces on the average nine merozoites per infection. It has abundant cytoplasm.

Geographical occurrence

This parasite occurs in the United States.

Clinical features and host pathology

Hosts of this species include the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus),{{cite journal|last1=Greiner|first1=Ellis|last2=Black|first2=David|last3=Iverson|first3=Wiliam|title=Plasmodium in a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Florida|journal=Journal of Wildlife Diseases|date=October 4, 1981|volume=17|issue=4|pages=555–558|doi=10.7589/0090-3558-17.4.555|pmid=7338979|s2cid=11385722 |url=http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.7589/0090-3558-17.4.555|accessdate=8 February 2015}} the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), yellow wagtails (Motacilla flava)Valkiunas G, Iezhova TA. (2001) A comparison of the blood parasites in three subspecies of the yellow wagtail Motacilla flava. J. Parasitol. 87(4):930-934. and American cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota).