Macroµgametocytes Index
From MalariaETC
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| Macrogametocytes and microgametocytes
The sexual form of the malarial parasite has either male (microgametocytes) or female form (macrogametocytes). Although biologically very important, these differences have little diagnostic significance but are certainly present on blood films, and are interesting and informative to observe. P.falciparum: The "rod shaped" parasites of P.falciparum have noticible differences between the two parasites shown. First the length of the parasites differ in comparison to red cell size with the left parasite being noticibly longer. Second, the effects of the red cell membrane restricting parasite development have different effects on parasite appearance: the macrogametocyte (left) is restricted and curved by the ghost red cell membrane (that now appears as an empty "blister" on the side of the erythrocyte; the microgametocyte (right) does not fll the ghost erythrocyte and so the parasite is straight with "floppy" membrane to each side. P.vivax: Here the large irregular/round macrogametocyte (left) of this species is much larger than the surounding normal red cells, the parasite is constrained within an enlarged red cell with almost no visible membrane. By contrast the microgametocyte (right) can be seen to be much smaller by comparison with the normal red cells and which does not fully fll the red cell with residual membrane visible around the parasite. |
