Malarial Parasites (Plasmodium) of Anolis Lizards: Biogeography in the Lesser Antilles

Abstract

Anolis lizards (Iguanidae) were surveyed for malarial parasites on 14 islands in the eastern Lesser Antilles, St. John in the Virgin Islands, and Curacao and Aruba in the southern Caribbean. Two species of malaria were identified in 4859 lizards sampled from the 17 islands, Plasmodium floridense and P. azurophilum. There was no relationship between island size, elevation, or rainfall and the presence or absence of malaria. Some of the largest islands had no malaria, some large and small islands had one species, and some, including tiny Saba, had both species of Plasmodium. P. azurophilum was found throughout the Lesser Antilles from St. Martin to Grenada; P. floridense was restricted to the northern islands, not further south than Montserrat. Our results, combined with surveys from other areas of the Caribbean basin, show both species of malaria infect anoles from distantly related taxonomic groups, suggesting that the parasites have had an ancient association with their lizard hosts.