Hurdle in taxonomy: A case of malaria parasites and other Haemosporidia

Abstract

A crucial progress in taxonomy matches with the growth of various branches of biological sciences. This validates the taxonomic positions of many organisms. Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium, the members of the Haemosporidia, are the well recognized parasitic genera. Revisiting the progress in animal taxonomy appears to be important to evaluate our studies. Haemosporidia being microscopic, their taxonomy specially the morphotaxonomy has sometimes created confusion. Therefore, analysis of progression of the taxonomy of the avian Haemosporidia demands special attention. Modern phylogenetic analyses revealed a wealth of information, which is undoubtedly useful for protozoology and other related sciences. Techniques of molecular taxonomy are applied to draw the phylogeny covering members of Haemosporidia. The study of the life cycles of both hosts and parasites are absorbing. Besides, analysis of their evolution through molecular phylogenetics appears to be vital in studying haemosporidians and to gain insight for basic and applied sciences. This article examines the potential of molecular phylogenetics in refining systematics of avian Haemosporidia and to explain a holistic view of the group.

Keywords

• phylogenetics
• hemoproteus
• plasmodium
• cytochrome b