''Vinckeia'' is a subgenus of the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Plasmodium ''Plasmodium'' is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. The life cycles of ''Plasmodium'' species involve development in a blood-feeding insect host which then injects parasites into a vert ...

'' — all of which are parasitic

alveolates The alveolates (meaning "pitted like a honeycomb") are a group of protists, considered a major clade and superphylum within Eukarya. They are currently grouped with the stramenopiles and Rhizaria among the protists with tubulocristate mitochond ...

. The subgenus ''Vinckeia'' was created by

Cyril Garnham Percy Cyril Claude Garnham Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, CMG Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (15 January 1901 – 25 December 1994), was a British Biology, biologist and parasitologist. On his 90th birthday, he was calle ...

in 1964 to accommodate the mammalian parasites other than those infecting the primates.

Diagnostic features

Species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in this subgenus infect

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

s other than the higher

primates Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including huma ...

. Species infecting

lemurs Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. They are endemic to the island of Madagasc ...

have since been included in this subgenus. This classification may not be correct. Schizonts: These do not fill the erythrocyte and do not show true stippling. They give rise normally to 8 or fewer merozoites. Schizogony normally takes three days or less. Merozoites: Gametocytes: These are spherical.

Species in this subgenus

The following is a list of species in subgenus ''Vinckeia'' and their hosts. *''

Plasmodium achromaticum ''Plasmodium achromaticum'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. achromaticum'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammal ...

'' — insectivorous

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bi ...

species *''

Plasmodium aegyptensis ''Plasmodium aegyptensis'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia'' which infects the Egyptian grass rat (''Arvicanthis niloticus''). The insect vector(s) for this species is not yet known. Description This species was f ...

'' —

African grass rat The Nile rat (''Arvicanthis niloticus'') is a species of rodent in the family Murinae. Taxonomy The species is divided into the following six subspecies. *''A. n. niloticus'': Nile, Egypt; *''A. n. dembeensis '' (): Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea; T ...

(''Arvicanthis niloticus'') *''

Plasmodium anomaluri ''Plasmodium anomaluri'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. anomaluri'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammal Mammal ...

'' — African flying squirrel (''

Anomalurus ''Anomalurus'' is the largest genus in the rodent family Anomaluridae, with four species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often ...

'' species) *''

Plasmodium atheruri ''Plasmodium atheruri'' is a species of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. As in all members of this genus, it is parasitic on vertebrate and insect hosts. The natural vertebrate host is the African porcupine ('' Atherurus africanus' ...

'' —

African brush-tailed porcupine The African brush-tailed porcupine (''Atherurus africanus'') is a species of rat-like Old World porcupine, indigenous to a broad belt of Africa ranging from Guinea on the west coast to Kenya on the east. This is a common species with a very wide ...

(''Atherurus africanus''), Large vesper mouse (''Calomys callosus'') and

Mongolian gerbil The Mongolian gerbil or Mongolian jird (''Meriones unguiculatus'') is a small rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. Their body size is typically , with a tail, and body weight , with adult males larger than females. The animal is us ...

(''Meriones unguiculatus''), ''

Anopheles stephensi ''Anopheles stephensi'' is a primary mosquito vector of malaria in urban India and is included in the same subgenus as ''Anopheles gambiae'', the primary malaria vector in Africa. ''A. gambiae'' consists of a complex of morphologically identical ...

'' *''

Plasmodium berghei ''Plasmodium berghei'' is a species in the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. It is a protozoan parasite that causes malaria in certain rodents. Originally, isolated from thicket rats in Central Africa, ''P. berghei'' is one of four '' ...

'' — the African woodland thicket rat (''

Grammomys ''Grammomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains the following species: * Arid thicket rat (''Grammomys aridulus'') * Short-snouted thicket rat (''Grammomys brevirostris'') * Bunting's thicket rat (''Gramm ...

surdaster''), ''

'' *''

Plasmodium booliati ''Plasmodium booliati'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus '' Vinckeia''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. booliati'' has both vertebrate and insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of ...

'' — the Malayan giant flying squirrel ''

Petaurista petaurista The red giant flying squirrel or common giant flying squirrel (''Petaurista petaurista'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae (squirrels). It is found in a wide variety of forest–types, plantations and more open habitats with scatter ...

'' *''

Plasmodium bouillize ''Plasmodium bouillize'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus '' Vinckeia''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. bouillize'' has both vertebrate and insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates ...

'' *''

Plasmodium brodeni ''Plasmodium brodeni'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus '' Vinckeia''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. brodeni'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals. Taxonomy The par ...

'' —

four-toed elephant shrew The four-toed elephant shrew or four-toed sengi (''Petrodromus tetradactylus'') is the only living species in the genus ''Petrodromus'', which together with five other extant genera ''Rhynchocyon'', '' Macroscelides'', '' Petrosaltator'', '' Gale ...

s (''Petrodromus tetradactylus'') *''

Plasmodium bubalis ''Plasmodium bubalis'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' (subgenus '' Vinckeia'') which causes malaria in buffalo in India. Description Like other ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. bubalis'' infects the red blood cells of its mammalian hos ...

'' —

water buffalo The water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis''), also called the domestic water buffalo or Asian water buffalo, is a large bovid originating in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Today, it is also found in Europe, Australia, North America, So ...

es (''Bubalus bubalis'') *''

Plasmodium bucki ''Plasmodium bucki'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''.As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. bucki'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals. Description The paras ...

'' *'' Plasmodium caprae'' — domestic

goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

(''Capra hircus'') *'' Plasmodium cephalophi'' — the antelope (''

Cephalophus ''Cephalophus'' is a mammal genus which contains at least fifteen species of duiker, a type of small antelope. Species Following Groves (2005), the species within ''Cephalophus'' include: * Aders's duiker ''Cephalophus adersi'' * Brooke's duiker ...

grimmi'') and the

common duiker The common duiker (''Sylvicapra grimmia''), also known as the grey or bush duiker, is a small antelope and the only member of the genus ''Sylvicapra''. This species is found everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the Horn of Africa ...

/grey duiker (''Sylvicapra grimmia'') *'' Plasmodium cercopitheci'' *''

Plasmodium chabaudi ''Plasmodium chabaudi'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. chabaudi'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are rodents. Taxonomy This ...

'' — ''

'' *'' Plasmodium coulangesi'' *'' Plasmodium cyclopsi'' — the

Cyclops roundleaf bat The cyclops roundleaf bat or cyclops leaf-nosed bat (''Doryrhina cyclops'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in the forests of equatorial Africa. Description Cyclops roundleaf bats are relatively small, with adults ranging ...

(''Hipposideros cyclops'') *'' Plasmodium foleyi'' *''

Plasmodium girardi ''Plasmodium girardi'' is a malaria parasite affecting lemurs. It was described in Madagascar in 1951 in ''Eulemur rufus'', the red-fronted lemur. It is named after Georges Girard, head of the Institut Pasteur in Antananarivo Antananarivo ...

'' *'' Plasmodium incertae'' —

flying squirrel Flying squirrels (scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini) are a tribe of 50 species of squirrels in the family Sciuridae. Despite their name, they are not in fact capable of full flight in the same way as birds or bats, but they ar ...

*'' Plasmodium inopinatum'' *''

Plasmodium joyeuxi ''Plasmodium joyeuxi'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. As in ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. joyeuxi'' has both vertebrate and insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the c ...

'' *'' Plasmodium landauae'' — African flying squirrels (''

'' species) *''

Plasmodium lemuris ''Plasmodium lemuris'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. Like all ''Plasmodium'' species ''P. lemuris'' has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals. Taxonomy This spe ...

'' *'' Plasmodium melanipherum'' — the

common bent-wing bat The common bent-wing bat (''Miniopterus schreibersii''), also known as the Schreibers's long-fingered bat or Schreibers's bat, is a species of insectivorous bat. They appear to have dispersed from a subtropical origin and distributed throughout ...

/Schreibers' bat (''Miniopterus schreibersii'') *'' Plasmodium narayani'' *'' Plasmodium odocoilei'' —

white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...

(''Odocoileus virginianus'') *'' Plasmodium percygarnhami'' *'' Plasmodium pulmophilium'' — African flying squirrel (''

'' species) *'' Plasmodium sandoshami'' — the Sunda flying lemur (''Galeopterus variegatus'') *'' Plasmodium semnopitheci'' *'' Plasmodium traguli'' —

mouse deer Chevrotains, or mouse-deer, are small even-toed ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, the only extant members of the infraorder Tragulina. The 10 extant species are placed in three genera, but several species also are known only f ...

*'' Plasmodium tyrio'' — the

Chinese pangolin The Chinese pangolin (''Manis pentadactyla'') is a pangolin native to the northern Indian subcontinent, northern parts of Southeast Asia and southern China. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2014, as the w ...

(''Manis pentadactyla'') *'' Plasmodium uilenbergi'' *'' Plasmodium vinckei'' rodents *'' Plasmodium voltaicum'' — the

Angolan rousette The Angolan fruit bat, Angolan rousette or Silky bat (''Myonycteris angolensis'') is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of C ...

(a fruit bat, ''Myonycteris angolensis''/''Rousettus smithi'') *'' Plasmodium watteni'' —

Formosan giant flying squirrel The red giant flying squirrel or common giant flying squirrel (''Petaurista petaurista'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae (squirrels). It is found in a wide variety of forest–types, plantations and more open habitats with scatter ...

(''Petaurista petaurista grandis'') *''

Plasmodium yoelii ''Plasmodium yoelii'' is a parasite of the genus ''Plasmodium'' subgenus ''Vinckeia''. As in all ''Plasmodium'' species, ''P. yoelii'' has both vertebrate and insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the c ...

'' — ''

Evolutionary history

Sharp et al 2020 reanalyze the available amino acid substitution data and conclude that ''chabaudi'', ''yoelii'', and ''berghei'' cluster relatively close together. Further they find ''chabaudi'' split off first and the ''berghei''/''yoelii'' division is more recent.

By host

Murine malaria

Murine malaria malaria in

mice A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...

is caused by '' P. berghei'', '' P. chabaudi'', '' P. vinckei'' and '' P. yoelii''. Some strains produce

cerebral malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, fatigue (medical), tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In se ...

and some do not.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7201960 Plasmodium subgenera