Plasmodium
False-coloured electron micrograph o a Plasmodium sp. sporozoite.
Scientific classification
(unranked): SAR
Superphylum: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Cless: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemosporida
Faimily: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Marchiafava & Celli, 1885
Species

about 200

Plasmodium, commonly kent as the malaria parasite, is a lairge genus o parasitic protozoa. As wi some other genera o cleenically important microorganisms, the genus name an aa yields a common noun; thus species o the genus are kent as plasmodia. Infection wi plasmodia is kent as malaria, a deadly disease widespread in the tropics.