Plasmodium ovale curtisi explained

Plasmodium ovale curtisi is a subspecies of parasitic protozoa that causes tertian malaria in humans. The subspecies was described in 2010 when it was established that the two subspecies of Plasmodium ovale, while morphologically identical are genetically distinct.^[1]

Epidemiology

P. ovale curtisi has been identified in Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, São Tomé, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

Clinical features

Clinical features for P. ovale curtisi are described in the article on Plasmodium ovale.

Phylogenetics

This species separated from its closest known relative, Plasmodium ovale wallikeri, between 1.0 and 3.5 million years ago.

Notes and References

1. 10.1086/652240. Two nonrecombining sympatric forms of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium ovale occur globally. Sutherland CJ, Tanomsing N, Nolder D, Oguike M, Jennison C, Pukrittayakamee S, Dolecek C, Hien TT, do Rosário VE, Arez AP, Pinto J, Michon P, Escalante AA, Nosten F, Burke M, Lee R, Blaze M, Otto TD, Barnwell JW, Pain A, Williams J, White NJ, Day NP, Snounou G, Lockhart PJ, Chiodini PL, Imwong M, Polley SD . J Infect Dis. 2010. 201. 10. 1544–50. 20380562. free.