Gallery of gametocytes: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:32, 17 March 2025

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Gallery of Gametocytes

Gametocytes essentially have "microgametocyte" (male) or "macrogametocyte" (female) appearance. For most species the gametocyte is round or slightly angular with species differences mainly reflected in the size of the red cell or parasite, although red cell dots may be seen in P.vivax or P.ovale. The exception is the P.falciparum parasite that has an elongated rod form that may become curved by the residual erythroid membrane - sometimes called the "banana" form..

P.falciparum
Rod shaped gametocytes may be straight and blunt (mainly the shorter "microgametocytes" which may also have darker colour) or curved by the red cell membrane producing a curved and more pointed end (banana form). Pigment generally overlies the central chromatin area.

Macrogametocyte, curved by the red cell membrane
Microgametocytes, a blunt rod, red cell membrane is "floppy"
A more sharp-ended curved macrogametocyte

"

P.vivax
As with other forms in this species parasites and infected red cells are characteristically large; Schüffner's may be seen or hidden by the parasite for macrogametocyte forms. Parasites may have an irregular shape; pigment distribution is diffuse. Images show a maturing sequence.

A large and irregular macrogmetocyte
Large macrogametocyte fills red cell
Microgametocytes with Schüffner's dots visible in red cell cytoplasm

"

P.ovale
Similar to P.vivax but generally smaller and the red cell will often show features such as James' dots, fimbriation and ovoid shape. Pigment tends to be around the circumference of the parasite.

Elongated and ovoid red cell contains the parasite
Small round parasite with prominent James' dots
A more typically ovoid form
Round parasite note the pigment around the circumference

"

P.malariae
Small and neat parasites that do not fill the the red cell. Neat pigment around the parasite circumference, Zeimann's dots rarely seen.

Small round with circumferential pigment
A neat round, possible macrogametocyte form
Very small and red cell parasite (possible microgametocyte)
Small gametocyte, possibly a second ring form within the cell

"

P.knowlesi
Gametocytes are most similar in appearance to P.malariae. Small and generally round.

Small and slightly degenerate gametocyte
Similar appearance note small size and absent dots

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 <span style="font-size:140%; color:navy">'''Gallery of Gametocytes'''</br></span>
 </br>
-<span style="font-size:90%">Schizont morphology is variable as they progress from late trophoxoites, dividing their chromatin into seprate distict masses (usually a schizont is defined by have more than two masses to distinguish them from rings with double dots). The morphological variability then continues as the merozoites separate before release. However, despite this, some features such as erythocyte size and shape, added dots, pigment distribution and the number of merozoites present can still be useful (as can the fact that they are rarely seen in ''P.falciparum''.</br></br>
+<span style="font-size:90%">Gametocytes essentially have "microgametocyte" (male) or "macrogametocyte" (female) appearance. For most species the gametocyte is round or slightly angular with species differences mainly reflected in the size of the red cell or parasite, although red cell dots may be seen in ''P.vivax'' or ''P.ovale''. The exception is the ''P.falciparum'' parasite that has an elongated rod form that may become curved by the residual erythroid membrane - sometimes called the "banana" form..</br></br>
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 <span style="font-size:90%">''' ''P.falciparum'' '''</span></br>
-<span style="font-size:90%">Loose and often "tatty" appearances with 8-16 merozoites and clumped pigment when mature. Rare in blood as they sequesterin tissues and circulating form may appear degenerate. Images show mature forms.</br>
+<span style="font-size:90%">Rod shaped gametocytes may be straight and blunt (mainly the shorter "microgametocytes" which may also have darker colour) or curved by the red cell membrane producing a curved and more pointed end (banana form). Pigment generally overlies the central chromatin area.</br>
 <gallery mode="nolines" heights=200px widths=200px>
-File:PFS1p.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Variable merozoite number, clumped pigment</span>|link={{filepath:PFS1p.jpg}}
+File:PFG1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Macrogametocyte, curved by the red cell membrane</span>|link={{filepath:PFG1.jpg}}
-File:PFS2p.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Degenerate small merozoite</span>|link={{filepath:PFS2p.jpg}}
+File:PFG3.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Microgametocytes, a blunt rod, red cell membrane is "floppy"</span>|link={{filepath:PFG3.jpg}}
-File:PFS3p.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Large merozoites</span>|link={{filepath:PFS3p.jpg}}
+File:PFG4.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">A more sharp-ended curved macrogametocyte</span>|link={{filepath:PFG4.jpg}}</gallery>"
-File:PFS4p.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Large merozoites</span>|link={{filepath:PFS4p.jpg}}</gallery>"
 ----
 <span style="font-size:95%">''' ''P.vivax'' '''</span></br>
-<span style="font-size:90%">Charactertically large and Schüffner's dots may be seen. The merozoites tend to pack the red cell with numbers up to 16-32 in mature merozoites. Pigment has diffuse distribution. Images show a maturing sequence.
+<span style="font-size:90%">As with other forms in this species parasites and infected red cells are characteristically large; Schüffner's may be seen or hidden by the parasite for macrogametocyte forms. Parasites may have an irregular shape; pigment distribution is diffuse. Images show a maturing sequence.
 <gallery mode="nolines" heights=200px widths=200px>
-File:PVS5.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Early form with separate chromatin but no individual merozoites</span>|link={{filepath:PVS5.jpg}}
+File:PVG1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">A large and irregular macrogmetocyte</span>|link={{filepath:PVG1.jpg}}
-File:PVS1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Similar to previous, note Schüffner's dots</span>|link={{filepath:PVS1.jpg}}
+File:PVG2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Large macrogametocyte fills red cell</span>|link={{filepath:PVG2.jpg}}
-File:PVS2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Maturing form with separate merozoites</span>|link={{filepath:PVS2.jpg}}
+File:PVG3.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Microgametocytes with Schüffner's dots visible in red cell cytoplasm</span>|link={{filepath:PVG3.jpg}}
-File:PVS3.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Large mature form, note patchy pigment</span>|link={{filepath:PVS3.jpg}}
 </gallery>"
 ----
 <span style="font-size:90%">''' ''P.ovale'' '''</span></br>
-<span style="font-size:90%">Share many features with ''P.vivax'' and may not be easy to distinguish, tend not to be as large with fewer merozoites (up to 16). Ovoid shape and fimbriation of red cells may be present together with James' dots. Pigment has a patchy distribution.
+<span style="font-size:90%">Similar to ''P.vivax'' but generally smaller and the red cell will often show features such as James' dots, fimbriation and ovoid shape. Pigment tends to be around the circumference of the parasite.
 <gallery mode="nolines" heights=200px widths=200px>
-File:POS1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Early small form note James' dots</span>|link={{filepath:POS1.jpg}}
+File:POG1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Elongated and ovoid red cell contains the parasite </span>|link={{filepath:POG1.jpg}}
-File:POS3.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Early form, merozoites still form a single mass</span>|link={{filepath:POS3.jpg}}
+File:POG2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Small round parasite with prominent James' dots</span>|link={{filepath:POG2.jpg}}
-File:POS2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Small mature form with separated merozoites</span>|link={{filepath:POS2.jpg}}
+File:POG4.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">A more typically ovoid form</span>|link={{filepath:POG4.jpg}}
-File:POS4.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Mature larger form, note ovoid shape</span>|link={{filepath:POS4.jpg}}</gallery>"
+File:POG5.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Round parasite note the pigment around the circumference</span>|link={{filepath:POG5.jpg}}</gallery>"
 ----
 <span style="font-size:90%">''' ''P.malariae'' '''</span></br>
-<span style="font-size:90%">Small and often neat parasites with few merozoites when mature (generally around 8). Often there is a central clump of pigment with merozoites arranged around this (daisy head appearance).
+<span style="font-size:90%">Small and neat parasites that do not fill the the red cell. Neat pigment around the parasite circumference, Zeimann's dots rarely seen.
 <gallery mode="nolines" heights=200px widths=200px>
-File:PMS1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Early schizont with multiple chromatin dots</span>|link={{filepath:PMS1.jpg}}
+File:PMG1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Small round with circumferential pigment</span>|link={{filepath:PMG1.jpg}}
-File:PMS2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">A daisy with merozoites around central pigment</span>|link={{filepath:PMS2.jpg}}
+File:PMG2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">A neat round, possible macrogametocyte form</span>|link={{filepath:PMG2.jpg}}
-File:PMS3.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">A less well formed daisy, note small size</span>|link={{filepath:PMS3g.jpg}}
+File:PMG3.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Very small and red cell parasite (possible microgametocyte)</span>|link={{filepath:PMG3.jpg}}
-File:PMS4.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Late form prior to merozoite release</span>|link={{filepath:PMS4.jpg}}
+File:PMLG0.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Small gametocyte, possibly a second ring form within the cell</span>|link={{filepath:PMLG0.jpg}}
 </gallery>"
 ----
 <span style="font-size:90%">''' ''P.knowlesi'' '''</span></br>
-<span style="font-size:90%">Similar in appearance to ''P.malariae''. The forms tend to be small with relatively few merozoites present. Pigment tend to form a clump.
+<span style="font-size:90%">Gametocytes are most similar in appearance to ''P.malariae''. Small and generally round.
 <gallery mode="nolines" heights=200px widths=200px>
-File:PKS3.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Early form with few chromatin masses</span>|link={{filepath:PKS3.jpg}}
+File:PKG1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Small and slightly degenerate gametocyte</span>|link={{filepath:PKG1.jpg}}
-File:PKS2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Almost a daisy with central clumped pigment</span>|link={{filepath:PKS2.jpg}}
+File:PKG2.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Similar appearance note small size and absent dots</span>|link={{filepath:PKG2.jpg}}
-File:PKS1.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Prior to release of merozoites</span>|link={{filepath:PKS1.jpg}}
-File:PKS4.jpg|<span style="font-size:80%">Immediately before merozoite release</span>|link={{filepath:PKS4.jpg}}
 </gallery>
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Gallery of gametocytes: Difference between revisions

From MalariaETC

Latest revision as of 13:32, 17 March 2025