Plasmodium tejerai

Plasmodium tejerai is a parasite of the genus "Plasmodium" subgenus "Haemamoeba".
Like all "Plasmodium" species "P. tejerai" has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Taxonomy.
The parasite was first described by Gabaldon and Ulloa in 1977.
Distribution.
This parasite is found in Brazil and Venezuela.
Vectors.
Not known.
Clinical features and host pathology.
This organism infects the domestic turkey ("Meleagris gallopavo") and the South American penguin ("Spheniscus magellanicus").
Morphologically this parasite resembles "Plasmodium relictum" closely. In the penguin infection may be fatal with splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, hydropericardium and pulmonary oedema. Tissue meronts may occur in the macrophages and endothelial cells of multiple organs.