Mesnilium is a genus of parasitic alveolates belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. Its vertebrate hosts are fish. The vectors are not presently known but are thought likely to be leeches.
Mesnilium | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
Clade: | SAR |
Clade: | Alveolata |
Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
Class: | Aconoidasida |
Order: | Haemospororida |
Family: | Plasmodiidae |
Genus: | Mesnilium Misra, Haldar and Chakravarty, 1972 |
Species: | M. malariae
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Binomial name | |
Mesnilium malariae Misra, Haldar & Chakravarty, 1972
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Taxonomy edit
The genus was created in 1972 by Misra, Haldar and Chakravarty.[1]
Description edit
Merogony occurs in erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells. Gamogony occurs only in erythrocytes and pigment granules are present only in microgamonts and macrogametes.
Hosts edit
The only known host of this parasite is the freshwater murrel (Ophicephalus punctatus).
References edit
- ^ Misra K.K., Haldar D.P. and Chakravarty M.M. (1972) Observations on Mesnilium malariae gen.nov., spec.nov. (Haemosporidia, Sporozoa) from the fresh water teleost, Ophicephalus punctatus Bloch. Arch. Protistenkd 114, 444-452