Plasmodium durae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia. Like all Plasmodium species P. durae has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds. Description The parasite was first described by Herman in 1941. Mature gametocytes tend to lie obliquely within the host cell, displace the nucleus to one pole of the cell and possess one or more clumps of clear pigment granules. Systematics It is related to the following species: Plasmodium asanum Plasmodium circumflexum Plasmodium fallax Plasmodium formosanum Plasmodium gabaldoni Plasmodium hegneri Plasmodium lophrae Plasmodium lophrae Plasmodium pediocetti Plasmodium pinotti Plasmodium polare Geographical occurrence This species is found in the United States of America and South Africa. Clinical features and host pathology Hosts of this species include domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and Swainson's Francolin (Francolinus swainsoni). References Further reading durae Bacteria described in 1941 Poultry diseases Parasites of birds