Plasmodium gaboni

Plasmodium gaboni is a species of parasitic protozoan belonging to the genus Plasmodium. This genus is known for causing malaria in various hosts, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. Specifically, P. gaboni has been identified in chimpanzees.12

The life cycle of Plasmodium species involves stages such as gametocytes, sporozoites, and merozoites. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Within a host, the parasites infect red blood cells, leading to their destruction and causing the characteristic symptoms of malaria, such as fever and chills. While several Plasmodium species infect humans, P. gaboni is found in non-human primates like chimpanzees and gorillas, and generally does not cause severe illness in these animals due to a long evolutionary history with their hosts.132