Plasmodium giganteum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba. As in all Plasmodium species, P. giganteum has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
Taxonomy The parasite was first described by Theiler in 1930.
Description Plasmodium giganteum blood-stage parasites are described as being 2 to 6 times as large as the host cell nucleus. The gametocytes are round and elongated.
Distribution Plasmodium giganteum has only been described in Gbanga, Liberia.
Hosts Plasmodium giganteum infects the rainbow lizard (Agama agama), as well as Agama mossambica and Agama cyanogaster.
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