Plasmodium immaculatum is a species of parasite that causes malaria in primates. The spelling of this word may seem complicated at first glance, but it can be broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable, "plas," is pronounced with a short "a" sound, like in the word "apple." The second syllable, "mo," is pronounced with a long "o" sound, like in the word "go." The final syllables, "di-um im-mac-u-lat-um," are pronounced as they are spelled. Overall, the pronunciation would be plaz-moh-dee-uhm ih-mak-yuh-lay-tuhm.
Plasmodium immaculatum is a term used in biology to refer to a specific species of single-celled parasites that belong to the genus Plasmodium. This genus includes several species that are responsible for causing malaria in humans and animals. Plasmodium immaculatum, however, is not known to infect humans.
Plasmodium immaculatum is primarily found in certain species of monkeys, particularly those living in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is transmitted to these primates through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Similar to other Plasmodium species, the life cycle of Plasmodium immaculatum involves different stages that occur both within the mosquito vector and the primate host.
Within the mosquito, the parasite undergoes a series of transformations, including asexual multiplication and sexual reproduction. After being transmitted to a monkey host, the parasite invades red blood cells and undergoes further multiplication. This can lead to the destruction of red blood cells, causing the animal to develop symptoms similar to malaria, such as fever, anemia, and organ dysfunction.
While Plasmodium immaculatum is not known to infect humans, its study is of importance for understanding the diversity and evolution of the Plasmodium genus. Additionally, insights gained from its biology may contribute to malaria control and prevention efforts, as understanding the transmission dynamics and host range of different Plasmodium species helps inform strategies to combat the disease in both human and animal populations.
(1) The malarial parasite in birds; (2) P. falciparum.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Plasmodium immaculatum" is a combination of two different terms.
1. Plasmodium: The term "plasmodium" comes from the Greek word "plasma" meaning "something formed or molded" and the Latin suffix "-odium" meaning "resembling". In biological terms, a plasmodium refers to a mass of protoplasm containing multiple nuclei, commonly found in the reproductive phase of certain organisms such as slime molds or certain parasites.
2. Immaculatum: The term "immaculatum" derives from the Latin word "immaculatus" meaning "spotless" or "unblemished". It is a combination of the prefix "im-" (meaning not) and the word "macula" (meaning stain or spot).