Plasmodium spp. (Infection with)

Plasmodium spp. are apicomplexan parasites in the order Haemoproteidae that infect blood and other tissues. Most notably, these are the causative agents of malaria. There are over 250 species that can infect both humans and animals, including nonhuman primates, rodents, and birds. They are spread by several mosquito species, mostly commonly Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex genera. These are zoonotic diseases and humans are at risk for infection with P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. knowlesi.