Carinamoeba Explained

Carinamoeba is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium - all of which are parasitic unicellular eukaryotes.

The subgenus was created in 1966 by Garnham.^[1] Species in this subgenus infect reptiles.

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Diagnostic features

The original criterion for inclusion in this genus was the presence of small schizonts giving rise to 8 or less merozoites. The criteria were subsequently revised by Telford in 1988.^[2]

Species in the subgenus Carinamoeba have the following characteristics:

Small schizonts giving rise to 8 or less merozoites

The gametocytes like the schizonts are small.

Species in this subgenus

• Plasmodium attenuatum
• Plasmodium auffenbergi
• Plasmodium basilisci
• Plasmodium clelandi
• Plasmodium cordyli
• Plasmodium lygosomae
• Plasmodium mabuiae
• Plasmodium minasense
• Plasmodium rhadinurum
• Plasmodium scelopori
• Plasmodium volans

Notes and References

1. Garnham P.C.C. (1966) Malaria parasttes and other haemospordia. Oxford, Blackwell
2. Telford S. (1988) A contribution to the systematics of the reptilian malaria parasites, family Plasmodiidae (Apicomplexa: Haemosporina). Bulletin of the Florida State Museum Biological Sciences 34, 65-96