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Maurer's dots and clefts description: Difference between revisions

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<span style="font-size:90%>These are blue-grey dots or linear structures seen at the late trophozoites of ''P.falciparum''. These structures lie within the erythrocyte cytoplasm and are the result of modification of the red cell by the parasite. The structures differ from the dots seen in ethrocytes infected by ''P.vivax'' or  ''P.ovale'' since they are few in number (you could imagine being able to count them). They are not seen in early trophozoites so define the late trophozoite stage.</span>  
<span style="font-size:90%">The dots found in the different species are parasite-derived proteins that modify the function of red cells in a range of ways that support parasite development, immune evasion or virulence. The precise functions of the dots in different pages are ill defined, but their appearances have value in distinguishing the different species of parasite. The dots require a well-stained specimen to be easily seen!</span>
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<span style="font-size:90%>'''Schüffner's dots''' (P.vivax) and '''James' dots)''' (''P.ovale'') become apparent during the early trophzoite as faint dots then to be easily seen in later stages. These two forms of dots are morphologically indistinguishable as frequent evenly-distrubuted round dots od similar size.</span>
 
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="220px" heights="220px" >
<gallery mode="nolines" widths=250px heights=250px>
File:Schuffner_dots.jpg|link={{filepath:Schuffner_dots.jpg}}
File:Mmaurer1.jpg|link={{filepath:Mmaurer1.jpg}}
File:James_dots.jpg|link={{filepath:James_dots.jpg}}
</gallery>
</gallery>
<span style="font-size:90%">''The most frequent form - two early trophozoites of P.falciparum in a single erythrocyte''</span>
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<span style="font-size:90%>'''Maurer's dots and clefts''' (''P.falciparum'') are blue/purple coloured and are not acquired until the late trophozoite stage of parasite development. They are less consistently "dot-like" and may appear as dots, clefts or plaques. '''Sinton and Mulligan's stippling''' (''P.knowlesi'') may appear similar.</span>
<span style="font-size:90%>'''Species significance'''</br></br>Maurer's dots and clefts are restricted to ''P.falciparum'' and can be distinguished from Schüffner's dots of ''P.vivax'' or the James' dots of ''P.ovale'' by their blue-grey colour, higher density and sometimes elongated (clefted) shape.</span>.
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="220px" heights="220px" >
File:Maurer_dots.jpg|link={{filepath:Maurer_dots.jpg.jpg}}
File:Sinton_Mulligan_dots.jpg|link={{filepath:Sinton_Mulligan_dots.jpg}}
</gallery>
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<span style="font-size:90%>'''Ziemann's stippling''' (''P.malariae'') Is not usully seen, but when present appears as faint fine (and inconspicuous) dots in cytoplasm of some ifected erythrocytes.</span>
<span style="font-size:90%>'''Compare with:'''</span>
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="220px" heights="220px" >
 
File:Ziemann_dots.jpg|link={{filepath:Ziemann_dots.jpg}}
<gallery mode="nolines" widths=200px heights=200px>
File:Mmaurer2.jpg|A.|link={{filepath:Mmaurer2.jpg}}
File:Schuffner1.jpg|B.|link={{filepath:Schuffner1.jpg}}
File:James1.jpg|C.|link={{filepath:James1.jpg}}
</gallery>
</gallery>
<span style="font-size:90%">''Maurer's dots and clefts in a late trophozoite of P.falciparum with two tropozoites and a mixture of dots and clefts (A). These are more dense and blue grey than the more numerous, softer, amd red/purple coloured Schüffner's dots seen in P.vivax (B) and James' dots in P.ovale (C)</span>

Latest revision as of 11:10, 22 March 2025

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Maurer's dots and clefts

The dots found in the different species are parasite-derived proteins that modify the function of red cells in a range of ways that support parasite development, immune evasion or virulence. The precise functions of the dots in different pages are ill defined, but their appearances have value in distinguishing the different species of parasite. The dots require a well-stained specimen to be easily seen!

Schüffner's dots (P.vivax) and James' dots) (P.ovale) become apparent during the early trophzoite as faint dots then to be easily seen in later stages. These two forms of dots are morphologically indistinguishable as frequent evenly-distrubuted round dots od similar size.

Maurer's dots and clefts (P.falciparum) are blue/purple coloured and are not acquired until the late trophozoite stage of parasite development. They are less consistently "dot-like" and may appear as dots, clefts or plaques. Sinton and Mulligan's stippling (P.knowlesi) may appear similar.

Ziemann's stippling (P.malariae) Is not usully seen, but when present appears as faint fine (and inconspicuous) dots in cytoplasm of some ifected erythrocytes.

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