Forms Main Menu

INDEX

A

Accolé form - the "edge" parasite, most closely associated with P.falcparum though certainly not restricted to this species

Amoeboid forms - a particular description applied to the irregular solid late trophozoites from P.vivax, very typical of the species

Angular forms - a solid late trophozoite form that appears angular in shape, most closely associated with P.malarie

B

Banana gametocyte - the curved elongated form of the gametocyte of P.falicparum

Band appearance - in P.malariae (and also P.knowlesi) the late trophozoite may form band across the infected erythrocyte

C

Central chromatin dot - the chromatin dot appears to lie within the vacuole of a ring form, may be more frequent in P.malariae'

Comet form - a feature of P.ovale where the combination of elongation and fimbriation is said to resemble of comet

Red cell crenation - the red cells in P.falciparum may become crenated following parasite invasion

D

Daisy head schizont - schizonts with a central area of pigment surrounded by petal like merozoites

Distrorted erythrocyte shape - the parasite modifies the shape of the infected erythrocyte, most characteristic of P.vivax

Double chromatin dot forms - trophozoites in which the chramatin forms two roughly equal dots

Dual species infection - in some instances infection occurs simultaneously with two different species

E

Ex-flagellation - an in vitro artefact of storage in which parasites undergo changes normally occurring in the mosquito gut

F

Fimbriation - irregular projections of the erythrocyte membrane seen mainly in P.ovale

J

James' dots - frequent red-purple dots in the cytoplasm of P.ovale infected erythrocytes

M

Malaria pigment - tbrown or gold masses within the cytoplasm of infected red cells or overlying parasites

Maurer's dots and clefts - blue dots or short linear structures seen in P.falciparum infected red cells

Macrogametocytes & Microgametocytes - male and female forms of malarial gametocytes differ in size

Multiple parasites - more than one parasite seen within an infected erythrocyte, more frequently seen in P.falciparum

R

Ring forms - probably the most familiar and frequently encountered parasite form

S

Schüffner's dots - frequent red-purple dots that arise in the cytoplasm of erythrocytes infected by P.vivax

Size and shape of infected red cells - the size and shape of red cells containing parasites varies between species

Staining pH - the pH of the malaria stain can significantly affect the parasite and erythrocyte appearances

P

Phagocytosed malaria pigment - malaria pigment is released into the blood as schizonts rupture and is phaocytosed by neutrophils or monocytes