Plasmodium cuculus

Plasmodium cuculus is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium .

Like all Plasmodium species P. cuculus has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.

Description

The parasite was first identified by Zhu, He and Miao in 2002.

This species has not yet been described. The species was identified from a DNA sequence from cytochrome b. Given the lack of DNA sequences from many of the known bird species this may turn out to be a junior synonym of a previously described known species.

Geographical occurrence

This 'species' was isolated in China.

Clinical features and host pathology

This 'species' was isolated from the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).

References