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), 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).
Related species
It is related to the following species:
Plasmodium asanum Plasmodium circumflexum Plasmodium durae Plasmodium fallax Plasmodium formosanum Plasmodium gabaldoni Plasmodium hegneri Plasmodium lophrae Plasmodium lophrae Plasmodium pediocetti Plasmodium pinotti
References
Further reading