haemoproteus columbae haemoproteus columbae haemoproteus columbae is a species of blood parasite related to plasmodium and other malaria parasites. haemoproteus columbae scientific classification domain: eukaryota clade: diaphoretickes clade: sar clade: alveolata phylum: apicomplexa class: aconoidasida order: chromatorida family: haemoproteidae genus: haemoproteus species: h. columbae binomial name haemoproteus columbaekruse, 1890 phylogenetic relationships among the haemosporidia haemoproteus columbae is a true member of the genus haemoproteus, basal to other avian parahaemoproteus species. parahaemoproteus species have been subsequently split from haemoproteus and are recognized as their own genus, sister to plasmodium malaria parasites. transmission haemoproteus columbae is transmitted by the pigeon louse fly, pseudolynchia canariensis. pathology or host effects of infection with h. columbae male (upper left, more pink) and female (lower right, more blue) h. columbae parasites in rock pigeon nucleated red blood cells. haemoproteus columbae infects pigeons. it is usually benign and does not reduce survival of its host. however, it can sometimes be fatal to young pigeons. it is slated for genome sequencing.