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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
14:10
Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination
Published on: July 4, 2007
Plasmodium pessoai sp. n. from two Costa Rican snakes
The Journal of Parasitology
|April 1, 1978
Summary
A novel malaria parasite species was identified in snakes from Costa Rica's Atlantic lowlands. This discovery expands our understanding of malaria parasite diversity in neotropical reptiles.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Herpetology
- Tropical Biology
Background:
- Malaria parasites (Plasmodium) infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts.
- Reptiles are known hosts for various Plasmodium species, but diversity in neotropical regions remains incompletely characterized.
- Previous surveys in Costa Rican forests have not extensively documented Plasmodium infections in arboreal snake species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a unique malaria parasite species found in snakes from eastern Costa Rica.
- To describe the morphological features distinguishing this new Plasmodium species.
- To document the prevalence of this parasite in specific snake species.
Main Methods:
- Blood smears were collected from snakes in moist Atlantic lowland forests.
- Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears was performed to identify and characterize malaria parasites.
- Morphological features of gametocytes, schizonts, and segmenters were recorded and measured.
Main Results:
- A unique malaria parasite species was detected in one Spilotes pullatus (Colubridae) and one Lachesis muta (Crotalidae).
- The parasite is characterized by small, sausage-shaped gametocytes (10.4 x 4.6 µm).
- Distinctive schizonts with visible digestive vacuoles and spherical/bouquet-shaped segmenters (22-32 merozoites) surrounded by a magenta matrix were observed.
Conclusions:
- A novel Plasmodium species, distinguished by unique morphological characteristics, has been identified in Costa Rican snakes.
- This finding highlights the potential for undiscovered Plasmodium diversity in neotropical reptile populations.
- Further research is needed to understand the parasite's life cycle, host specificity, and ecological role.
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