Studies on African Saurian Malarias: Three Plasmodium Species from Gekkonid Hosts

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Abstract
Three undescribed Plasmodium spp. were found in gekkonid lizards from the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. P. uluguruense sp. nov. parasitizes Hemidactylus platycephalus. Schizonts, smaller than host cell nuclei, produce 4-12 merozoites, usually arranged as a fan. Gametocytes, usually oval, approximate the host cell nuclei in size, and show pigment granules concentrated in a single focus. Immature gametocytes are elongate with blunt ends, while similarly shaped young schizonts become oval or round following the 2nd nuclear division. P. loveridgei sp. nov. is a parasite of Lygodactylus picturatus. Polymorphic schizonts, usually larger than host cell nuclei, contain 6-26 merozoites. The normally elongate gametocytes show dispersed pigment, and average 3 times host cell nucleus size. Both young schizonts and immature gametocytes are elongate and narrow, with acuminate ends. P. cnemaspi sp. nov. parasitizes Cnemaspis africana. Schizonts, usually round, oval or oblong, exceed host cell nuclei in size, and produce 8-20 merozoites. The elongate or oval gametocytes showed dispersed pigment and were twice the size of host cell nuclei. In chronic infections, gametocytes became rounded and caused both host cell and nucleus to shrink. These are the first saurian malarial parasites reported from African geckoes.

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