Plasmodium octamerium is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
Like all Plasmodium species P. octamerium has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Taxonomy
The parasite was first described by Manwell in 1968.Manwell R. D. (1968) Plasmodium octamerium n. sp., an avian malaria parasite from the pintail whydah bird Vidua macroura. J. Protozool. 15(4):680-685
Distribution
This species was described in Africa and has also been reported in Hong Kong.
Hosts
Known hosts for this parasite include the pintail whydah bird (Vidua macroura) and the greater blue-eared glossy starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus).Paperna I., Martelli P. (2008) Haemosporidian infections in captive exotic glossy starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus in Hong Kong. Folia Parasitol (Praha)
References