Plasmodium eylesi
Plasmodium eylesi is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Plasmodium. Like all Plasmodium species P. eylesi has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals. Description The parasite was first described by Warren et al. in 1965. and is named after the malariologist Dr. Don E. Eyles, Father of the Apollo computer engineer Don Eyles. It is believed that this species is related to Plasmodium hylobati, Plasmodium jefferyi and Plasmodium youngi but this putative relationship awaits examination by DNA based methods. The parasite prefers to infect reticulocytes but will infect older erythrocytes. Multiple infections like those of Plasmodium falciparum are common with up to six ring forms. Almost immediately on infection the erythrocyte enlarges. Schüffner's dots are rapidly apparent. Pigment is scarce, granular and yellowish-brown. Young schizonts almost fill the host cell except for small areas where Schüffner's dots may be found. Oval shaped forms may occur. Each schizont may give rise to 20 - 34 merozoites (average: 25). The mature macrogametocytes which stain a grayish-blue fill the enlarged host cell. Also present is a coarse, granular pigment which is scattered evenly throughout the parasite. The generally oval nucleus is deep staining and may