As in all Plasmodium species, P. giganteum has both vertebrate and insect hosts.

The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.

P. giganteum blood-stage parasites are described as being 2 to 6 times as large as the host cell nucleus.

[1] Schall, JJ; Bromwich, CR (April 1994).

"Interspecific interactions tested: two species of malarial parasite in a West African lizard".