''Plasmodium ovale wallikeri'' is a subspecies of
parasitic
Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...
protozoa that causes tertian
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
in humans. The subspecies was described in 2010 when it was established that the two subspecies of ''
Plasmodium ovale
''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 ...
,'' while morphologically identical are genetically distinct.''
''
Epidemiology
''Plasmodium ovale wallikeri'' has been identified in Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, São Tomé, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Clinical features
Clinical features for ''P. ovale wallikeri'' are described in the article on ''
Plasmodium ovale
''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 ...
''.
Phylogenetics
This species separated from its closest known relative - ''Plasmodium ovale curtisi'' - between 1.0 and 3.5 million years ago.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7201935
ovale wallikeri
Subspecies