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Plasmodium ovale: Morphology: Difference between revisions

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<span style="font-size:90%">The sexual replication form (very distinctive).
<span style="font-size:90%">The sexual replication in ''P.falciparum'' is very distinctive and may be the only form visible (particularly of after treatment).
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<span style="font-size:90%">*Red cells are very large and have ovoid or distorted forms
*<span style="font-size:90%">male and femaie gametocytes have the appearance of rods although these may be distorted
*<span style="font-size:90%">[[Macrogametocytes]] (female form) will often entirely fill the erythrocyte
*<span style="font-size:90%">The rod shapes may become curved by the red cell membrane to give the characteristic [[Banana gametocyte main|"banana" form]]
*<span style="font-size:90%">[[Microgametocytes]] (male form) have a cytoplasmic rim with visible Schüffner's dots
*<span style="font-size:90%">The residual membrane (empty of haemoglobin) is often seen as a "blister" to one or both sides of the parasite
*<span style="font-size:90%">[[Malaria pigment|malaria pigment]] is clumped evenly over the surface of the gametocyte
*<span style="font-size:90%">The single chromatin area is in the centre of the parasite, often has [[Malaria pigment main|pigment]] overlying it
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Revision as of 21:31, 15 December 2024

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Morphology of Plasmodium ovale
(See Malaria Biology pages for an explanation of these stages)



The early trophozoite


During this later growth stage the rings enlarge and begin to modify the erythrocyte, forming typical features of the species.

  • Large and robust-appearing rings, not usually multiply infected
  • Red cells may become enlarged and may be ovoid or have a fimbriated apearance
  • James' dots (indistinguishable from Schuffner’s dots) often appear
  • Pigment will not generally be present at the early trophozoite stage





The late trophozoite


During this growth stage parasites grows but generally retain a ring shape, this process is accompanied by further modification of the red cell with ovoid and fimbriated features more common; metabolism of haemoglobin causes malaria pigment to form.

  • Parasites become larger and thickened, but the ring form is generally retained
  • Red cell enlargement is seen and distortion causing ovoid and fimbriated forms
  • James’ dots will now be prominent in appropriately stained specimens
  • Pigment will now be seen over the surface of the parasite





The schizont


The asexual stage of malaria parasite development - only some trophozoites form schizonts, but those that do undergo successive cycles of replication within the red cell to generate multiple "merozoites" that then each invade a new red cell to continue and increase the infection.

  • A range of maturing schizonts will generally be present within moderately enlarged red cells
  • When mature schizonts may contain 16-24 separate merozoites
  • James' dots can be detected in any residual cytoplasm of the erythrocyte
  • malaria pigment is visible in irregularly distributed clumps over the schizont surface





The gametocyte


The sexual replication form (very distinctive).
*Red cells are very large and have ovoid or distorted forms