| Plasmodium ovale | |
|---|---|
| |
| Plasmodium ovale trophozoite, Giemsa stain. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemospororida |
| Family: | Plasmodiidae |
| Genus: | Plasmodium |
| Species: | P. ovale
|
| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium ovale Stephens, 1922
| |
Plasmodium ovale is a species of parasitic protozoon that causes tertian malaria in humans. It is one of several species of Plasmodium parasites that infect humans, including Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax which are responsible for most cases of malaria in the world. P. ovale is rare compared to these two parasites, and substantially less dangerous than P. falciparum.
P. ovale has recently been shown by genetic methods to consist of what is considered to be two species (despite having been given subspecies names), namely P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri.[1] The procedure necessary to rectify the nomenclature has been outlined.[2]
- ^ Sutherland CJ, Tanomsing N, Nolder D, Oguike M, Jennison C, Pukrittayakamee S, et al. (May 2010). "Two nonrecombining sympatric forms of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium ovale occur globally". The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 201 (10): 1544–50. doi:10.1086/652240. PMID 20380562.
- ^ Markus, M.B. (2024). "Type material of Plasmodium ovale sensu lato". Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases. 39 (1): 615. doi:10.4102/sajid.v39i1.615. PMC 11019055.