Phagocytosis of malaria pigment b
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| Phagocytosis of malaria pigment
The malaria pigment formed by parasites to detoxify the iron contained in the haem portion of digested haemoglobin is an insoluble brown or golden clump or clumps of pigment. Following schizont rupture this insoluble material is released into the circulation. Below is an image of a rupturing schizont, the red cell membrane will soon be lost releasing both merozoites and free pigment.
The released pigment is seen as "foreign" material and is recognised and ingested by phagocytes (neutrophils or monocytes) where it appears unchanged in the cytoplasm and visible on thin or thick malaria film preparations. The appearance has considerable specificity and should be regarded as evidence to support malaria infection when found.
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