New malaria species

A fascinating topic!

Yes, there have been several reports of new malaria species in recent years. Malaria is a significant public health problem, causing an estimated 228 million cases and 405,000 deaths worldwide in 2020 alone. The parasite that causes malaria, Plasmodium, has a complex life cycle that involves multiple hosts, including mosquitoes and humans.

Here are some examples of newly discovered malaria species:

  1. Plasmodium cynomolgi: In 2019, a new species of malaria parasite was discovered in the blood of a patient in Malaysia. This species, named Plasmodium cynomolgi, is thought to have originated from the Asian macaque monkey.
  2. Plasmodium schwetzi: In 2018, a new species of malaria parasite was identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This species, named Plasmodium schwetzi, is thought to have originated from the African forest monkey.
  3. Plasmodium falciparum-like parasite: In 2020, a new parasite was discovered in the blood of a patient in the Amazon rainforest. This parasite, which is similar to Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite, is thought to have originated from an unknown primate host.
  4. Plasmodium knowlesi-like parasite: In 2019, a new parasite was identified in the blood of a patient in Malaysia. This parasite, which is similar to Plasmodium knowlesi, a parasite that infects macaques, is thought to have originated from an unknown primate host.

These new species of malaria parasites highlight the complexity of the parasite's life cycle and the need for continued research to understand the transmission dynamics of malaria. They also underscore the importance of monitoring for new cases of malaria and developing effective diagnostic tools to detect these emerging parasites.

It's worth noting that while these new species of malaria parasites are significant discoveries, they are not necessarily more virulent or deadly than existing malaria parasites. However, they do highlight the ongoing threat of malaria and the need for continued efforts to control and eliminate the disease.