Malaria parasites
Malaria parasites are members of the genus ''Plasmodium'' (phylum Apicomplexa). In humans malaria is caused by ''P. falciparum'', ''P. malariae'', ''P. ovale'', ''P. vivax'' and ''P. knowlesi''. '' P. falciparum'' is the most common cause of infection and is responsible for about 80% of all malaria cases, and is also responsible for about 90% of the deaths from malaria. Parasitic ''Plasmodium'' species also infect birds, reptiles, monkeys, chimpanzees and rodents.
There have been documented human infections with several simian species of malaria, namely ''P. knowlesi'', ''P. inui'', ''P. cynomolgi'', ''P. simiovale'', ''P. brazilianum'', ''P. schwetzi'' and ''P. simium''; however, with the exception of ''P. knowlesi'', these are mostly of limited public health importance.
Although avian malaria can kill chickens and turkeys, this disease does not cause serious economic losses to poultry farmers. However, since being accidentally introduced by humans it has decimated the endemic birds of Hawaii, which evolved in its absence and lack any resistance to it.
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