| How does schizont appearance change during their development?
The schizonts we see on blood films are each at a particular stage of the successive cycles of asexual division that eventually result in the formation of multiple separate "merozoite" forms. Those merozoites are released as the red cell breaks down then go on to infect another red cell. Schizonts therefre look very different depending on which stage of development they represent. Below are images of schizonts at different developmental stages.
THE INITIAL ASEXUAL DIVISION
The first recognisable stage occurs when th schizonts first divide their chromatin to form two distinct masses. This first stage is the least distinctive and can be difficult t distinguish from a late trophozoite or gametocyte with a double chromatin dot. But often the appearance is clear.
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IMMATURE SCHIZONT APPEARANCES
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MATURE SCHIZONT APPEARANCES
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MEROZOITE RELEASE
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