Plasmodium ovale wallikeri | |
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Plasmodium ovale trophozoite, Giemsa stain. | |
Scientific classification | |
(unranked): | SAR |
(unranked): | Alveolata |
Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
Class: | Aconoidasida |
Order: | Haemosporida |
Family: | Plasmodiidae |
Genus: | Plasmodium |
Species: | P. ovale |
Subspecies: | P. o. wallikeri |
Trinomial name | |
Plasmodium ovale wallikeri |
Plasmodium ovale wallikeri is a subspecies of parasitic protozoa that causes tertian malaria in humans. It was described in 2010 when it was realised that Plasmodium ovale was in fact two distinct species - Plasmodium ovale curtisi and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri - which are morphologically identical.
Both P. ovale subspecies have been identified in Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, São Tomé, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Since this species has only recently been identified clinical features are described in the page on Plasmodium ovale.
This species separated from its closest known relative - Plasmodium ovale curtisi - between 1.0 and 3.5 million years ago.