Plasmodium vinckei is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. vinckei has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are rodents.
Taxonomy This species was first described in 1952 by Rodhain. Several subspecies have been described since.Carter, R. and Walliker, D. 1975: New observations on the malaria parasites of rodents of the Central African Republic - Plasmodium vinckei petteri subsp. nov. and Plasmodium chabaudi Landau, 1965. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol., 69: 187-196Killick-Kendrick, R. 1975: Parasitic protozoa of the blood of rodents. V. Plasmodium vinckei brucechwatti subsp. nov. A malaria parasite of the thicket-rat, Thamnomys rutilans in Nigeria. Ann. Parasitol. Humaine et Comparée 50: 251-264
Subspecies Plasmodium vinckei. brucechwatti Plasmodium vinckei chabaudi Plasmodium vinckei lentum Plasmodium vinckei petteri Plasmodium vinckei vinckei
Distribution This species is found in Central Africa including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.
Vectors Anopheles cinctus Anopheles dureni
References
Further reading