plasmodium lainsoni plasmodium lainsoni plasmodium lainsoni is a parasite of the genus plasmodium. like all plasmodium species p. lainsoni has both vertebrate and insect hosts. the vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles. plasmodium lainsoni scientific classification kingdom: protista phylum: apicomplexa class: aconoidasida order: haemosporida family: plasmodiidae genus: plasmodium species: p. lainsoni binomial name plasmodium lainsoni description the parasite was first described by telford in 1978. it produces rounded schizonts containing 14 to 32 merozoites. its gametocytes are typically round or oval. geographical occurrence this species is found in venezuela, south america. clinical features and host pathology the only known host of this species is the lizard phyllodactylus ventralis.