Malaria

Abstract

Shortly after merozoites are released from hepatocytes, they invade RBCs and over a period of 2 or 3 days, develop asexually. The stages of asexual development include the ring (early trophozoite), trophozoite and schizont stages. The diagnosis of malaria can be made upon the identification of the parasites within erythrocytes on Giemsa-stained blood smears (see Table 32.1). The distinct appearance of these stages of development on Giemsa-stained thin blood smears, allows one to determine the specific species infecting the host.