Plasmodium hermani

Plasmodium hermani is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Huffia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. hermani has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.

Description

This species was first described in 1975 by Telford and Forrester in a wild turkey.

Geographical occurrence

This species is found in Florida, USA.

Vectors

Note: Cx. nigripalpus appears to be the main natural vector.

Clinical features and host pathology

This species infects knots, bobwhites and turkeys.
Infection of turkeys causes anaemia, splenomegaly and decreased growth but is not normally fatal.