QUESTION How can you examine malaria parasites? ANSWER Malaria parasites are usually examined under a microscope using a peripheral blood smear method (also called a blood film). Thick blood smears, which use a large unsmeared drop of blood, are sensitive since a large number of red blood cells can be examined, though the parasites, if present, are difficult to distinguish … [Read more...]
Schizont
QUESTION What is a schizont? ANSWER A schizont is a malaria parasite which has matured and contains many merozoites, which are the parasite stage that infects red blood cells. Schizonts can be produces during two separate phases of the life cycle within the human host: first in the hepatocytic cells in the liver (when sporozoites mature) during the exo-erythrocytic cycle and then … [Read more...]