Additional Plasmodium species from Anolis lizards of Hispaniola and Panama

Abstract

Saurian malaria parasites in the Caribbean were previously represented by only two species, Plasmodium azurophilum and P. floridense. An additional three species of Plasmodium occur on Hispaniola which appear, because of morphometric and qualitative similarities, to be related to South and Middle American species: a subspecies of Plasmodium tropiduri in Anolis cybotes; a population of Plasmodium minasense anolisi in A. cybotes and A. distichus; and another parasite in A. distichus which is designated as a subspecies of a previously undescribed Plasmodium species in Anolis limifrons. Taxonomic descriptions based upon morphology of mature schizonts and gametocytes are given, the previously unknown parasites are described as new species/subspecies, and comparison is made with P. floridense which also occurs in their respective host species. A Fallisia species was also present but is not described. The increased diversity of Plasmodium parasites in Hispaniolan anoles is attributed to colonization of the island by four separate evolutionary lines of Anolis lizards, in comparison to fewer invasions of Jamaica and Puerto Rico, where only P. floridense and P. azurophilum are found.