Human Malaria Parasites: Are We Ready for a New Species?

Abstract

There are four well-established human malaria parasites, although a nonhuman primate malaria parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi, can also infect humans [1]. Plasmodium ovale is one of the human malaria parasites, but it traditionally receives little attention because of its mild disease and relatively low infection rate. An intriguing and provocative report in this issue of the Journal by Sutherland et al. raises the possibility of two distinct parasite species under the name P. ovale.