Saurian Malaria: Development of Sporozoites in Two Species of Phlebotomine Sandflies

Abstract

Sporolzoites of a lizard malaria parasite, Plasmodium mexicanum. developed in two spcies of sandfly-Lutzomyia vexatrix and Lutzomyia stewarti. Salivary g1ands were infected 11 days after the flies took an infective blood meal. This is the first report of a malaria parasite undergoing sporogonic development In an insect other than a mosquito and the first description of lizard malaria sporogenesis.