Plasmodium hermani is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Huffia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. hermani has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Description This species was first described in 1975 by Telford and Forrester in a wild turkey.Telford S.R., Jr. and Forrester D.J. (1975) Plasmodium (Huffia) hermani sp. n. from wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Florida. J. Euk. Microbiol. 22 (3) 324-328
Geographical occurrence This species is found in Florida, USA.
Vectors Culex nigripalpusForrester DJ, Nayar JK, Foster GW. (1980) Culex nigripalpus: a natural vector of wild turkey malaria (Plasmodium hermani) in Florida. J. Wildl. Dis. 16(3):391-394 Culex restuans Culex salinariusNayar JK, Young MD, Forrester DJ. (1981) Plasmodium hermani: experimental transmission by Culex salinarius and comparison with other susceptible florida mosquitoes. Exp. Parasitol. 51(3):431-437 Wyeomyia vanduzeei
Note: Cx. nigripalpus appears to be the main natural vector.
Clinical features and host pathology
This species infects knots (Calidris canutus), bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo).
Infection of turkeys causes anaemia, splenomegaly and decreased growth but is not normally fatal.
References