''Fallisia'' is a genus of the family
Plasmodiidae''
The genus was created by Lainson, Landau and Shaw in 1974. A revision of the genus ''Plasmodium'' by Levine in 1985 considered this subgenus to be a synonym of ''Plasmodium''. The description of a new species ''Plasmodium siamense'' by Telford in 1986 lead to a resurrection of this as a subgenus. Further revision of its taxonomic status has led to its elevation to genus status.
Species in this genus infect
birds and
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
s.
Diagnostic features
Species in this genus have the following characteristics:
The
schizonts and
gametocytes are found in the circulating
leukocyte
White blood cells, also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. All white blood cells are produced and derived from mult ...
s and
thromobcytes.
Pigment is absent.
Subgenera
There are two recognised subgena - ''Fallisia'' Telford 1998 and ''
Plasmodiodes'' Gabaldon, Ulloa & Zerpa 1985. Species in ''Fallisia'' infect lizards and those in ''Plasmodiodes'' infect birds.
Until confirmed by molecular methods this classification should be regarded as tentative.
Host distribution
These species infect lizards of the
Iguanidae and
Teiidae. They may also infect the
Scincidae.
Distribution
These parasites are found in the
Neotropical area.
References
Apicomplexa genera
Haemosporida
{{Apicomplexa-stub