A new species of Plasmodium from Malagasy vangas.

During a recent examination of blood smears from Malagasy birds, a species of avian Plasmodium unlike those currently known was observed. All infected birds were members of the Vangidae, which is endemic to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Plasmodium parvulum n. sp. is described, and classified as a member of the subgenus Haemamoeba because of gametocyte and schizont shape, displacement of the host cell nucleus, as well as distortion of the host cell. Round, rosettelike schizonts with 6-8 merozoites, clumped refractile granules, and little cytoplasm were observed. Both schizonts and mature, round gametocytes rotated and displaced the erythrocyte nucleus. A brief comparison to P. relictum is included.