Pracical No.

2
Malaria parasite
Terms used in relation to malaria
Sporozoite
The infective stage passed in the saliva of
the mosquito and formed inside an oocyst
by the process of sporogony.
Hypnozoite
The dormant form of the sporozoite seen
in P. vivax and apparently responsible for
relapses.
Schizont
The stage undergoing asexual division by
multiple fission or segmentation. Schizonts
may be found in the liver cells (pre-
erythrocytic schizonts) or in the erythrocytes
(erythrocytic schizonts).
Merozoite
The product of division by schizogony.
Trophozoite
The stage of the asexual form with an
undivided nucleus, seen in the erythrocyte.
Secondary exo-erythrocytic stage (late
pre-erythrocytic stage)
This was the term used to denote schizonts
developing in the liver as a result of invasion
by merozoites from the pre-erythrocytic
schizont. It is now believed that re-infection
of liver cells does not occur by pre-
erythrocytic merozoites.
Micorgametocyte
The male gametocyte which produces a
number of microgametes.
Exflagellation
The process by which microgametes are
formed from a microgametocyte.
Macrogametocyte
The female gametocyte which produces a
single macrogmete.
Zygote
The fertilized ovum.
Ookinete
The motile stage of the zygote preceding the
oocyst stage.
Oocyst
The zygote after the formation of the cyst
wall.
Sporogony
The sexual phase n the life cycle of certain
protozoa. In Plasmodium this takes place in
the mosquito vector.
Incubation period
The interval between the entry of the
sporozoites and the first clinical
manifestation.
P. falicparum 8 to 20 days.
P. vivax 12 to 15 days.
P. malariae about 24 days.
P. ovale about 18 days.
Pre-patent period
The minimum time between the entry of
sporozoites and the first appearance of parasites
in the red cells
P. falicparum 6 to 12 days.
P. vivax 10 to 12 days.
P. malariae about 21 days.
P. ovale about 14 days.

Latency
The duration between the primary attack of
malaria and the relapse. There are no
parasites in the circulation during this
period.
Paraxysms
Bouts of fever due to the liberation of
merozoites during erythrocytic schizogony.
Recrudescence
Renewed manifestation of infection due to
the survival of erythrocytic forms.
Relapse (recurrence)
Renewed manifestation of infection due to
the invasion of blood by merozoites from the
late pre-erythrocytic stage.
Re-infection
Renewed minfestation of infection not due to
the original infection but resulting from
subsequent fresh infection.
BLOOD FILM
Collection of Blood
Malaria blood films are best prepared
directly from the capillary blood. EDTA
anticoagulated venous blood can also be
used providing the blood films are made
soon after collecting the blood (within 30
minutes) and thick films are handled with
care to prevent the blood being washed
from the slide during staining.
Making thick and thin blood films
Thick and thin blood films can be made on
separate slides or on the same slide which
may be more convenient.
Whenever possible use slides with frosted
ends to facilitate labelling.
Capillary blood method (thick and
thin blood film on same slide)
Cleanse the lobe of the finger (or heel if an
infant) using a swab moistened with 70% v/v
alcohol. Allow the area to dry.
Using a sterile lancet, prick the finger or
heel. Squeeze gently to obtain a large drop
of blood. Collect the blood preferably in a
small plastic bulb pipette.

Using a completely clean grease-free
microscope slide add a small drop of blood
to the centre of the slide and a large drop
about 15 mm to the right.
Immediately spread the thin film using a
smooth edged slide spreader, held at a
steeper angle.
Without delay (using the end of the plastic
pipette or piece of stick), spread the large
drop of the blood to make the thick smear.
Cover evenly an area about 15x15 mm. it
should just be possible to see (but not
read) newsprint through the film.
Using a black lead pencil, label the slide
with the date and the patients name and
number. If a slide having a frosted end is
not used, write the information neatly on
the top of the thin film (after it has dried)
Allow the blood films to air-dry with the
slide in a horizontal position and laced in a
safe place.
Fixation of the thin blood films
Place the slide horizontally on a level bench
or on a staining rack.
Apply a small drop of absolute methanol or
ethanol to the thin film, making sure the
alcohol does not touch the thick film.
Alternatively apply the methanol to the thin
film using a swab.
Allow the thin film to fix for 1-2 minutes.