Giovanolaia is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium created by Corradetti et al. in 1963. [1] The parasites within this subgenus infect birds.
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This subgenus was shown on the basis of DNA analysis to be polyphetic. A revision of this subgenus on a morphological basis by Landua et al moved several of the species in this subgenus into a new subgenus Papernaia.
Diagnostic features
Species in the subgenus Giovanolaia have the following characteristics:
Schizonts contain plentiful cytoplasm, are larger than the host cell nucleus and frequently displace it. They are found only in mature erythrocytes.
Gametocytes are elongated.
Both gametocytes and schizonts are stretched along the red cell nucleus.
Exoerythrocytic schizogony occurs in the mononuclear phagocyte system.
Species in this subgenus
Plasmodium anasum
Plasmodium buteonis
Plasmodium circumflexum
Plasmodium dissanaikei
Plasmodium fallax
Plasmodium ghadiriani
Plasmodium gundersi
Plasmodium heroni
Plasmodium lophurae
Plasmodium octamerium
Plasmodium tranieri
References
- ^ Corradetti A., Garnham P. C. C. and Laird M. (1963). New classification of the avian malaria parasites. Parassitologia 5, 1–4