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Biology of the Gametocyte
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The gametocyte is the sexual form of the malarial parasite that may have either male or female form (a higher percentage are female). Generally male gametocytes (microgametocytes) are smaller then the more pale female form (macrogametocytes). Gemetocytes are effectively “dormant” when in human blood and only develop further when ingested by a mosquito (the temperature drop in the mosquito foregut rapidly activates them to a single female gamete or 8 male gametes (see section on re-infection of the mosquito).
| Morphological features and relevance
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Gametocytes (like schizonts) are the final mature form of parasites in the blood, consequently they have metabolised most or all of the red cell haemoglobin in order to grow. The red cell therefore simply consistes of membrane/cytoskeleton that surrounds the parasite without any of the red haemoglobin pigment generally with prominent malaria pigment (the metabolised haem molecule containing iron). The appearance of gametocytes however does vary according to species and this can aid morphological species identification
P.falciparum
In this species the gametocytes have a "rod" shape which may be constricted by the remaining red cell membrane to form a curved shape (often described as banana-shaped).
P.malariae
Like other stages in this species the red cell containing the parasite is not enlarged or distorted and may be small. Parasites are typically small and neat with rounded form that do not fill the red cell.
P.vivax
Typically these are very enlarged (significantly larger than normal red cells) often retaining the irregular shape that devlelops in P.vivax during the trophozoite stage.
P.ovale
Like other species the gametocytes retain the species-specific features acquired during the late trophozoite phase, they may appear sightly enlarged, often ovoid, and have fimbriation.
P.knowlesi
These gametocytes tend to be small like P.malariae but less neat and well formed,
| Relevance of gametocytes to clinical biology
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Following treatment of malaria these forms may persist (depending on the nature of the treatment) particularly in the first week but sometimes up to 28 days (unlike the asexual forms that generally disappear more rapidly).
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