TERMINOLOGIES USED IN PLASMODIUM INFECTION

• Sporozoite: Sporozoite is the infectious form of Plasmodium parasite, which is injected into humans by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes.

• Merozoite: Merozoite is the form of the Plasmodium parasite that invades the red blood cells immediately after its release from the rupturing of schizonts in the liver cells.

• Oocyst: Oocyst is a stage of the Plasmodium parasite which is produced when male and female gametes combine within the mosquito.

• Gametes: Gametes are the reproductive elements of the Plasmodium parasite, and it is made up of the male and female forms.

• Gametocytes: Gametocytes are the precursors of the sexual forms of Plasmodium parasite, which are released as either male or female gametes within the gut or stomach of the mosquito.

• Microgametocytes: Microgametocytes are the male gametes of the Plasmodium parasite.

• Macrogametocytes: Macrogametocytes are the female gametes of the Plasmodium parasite.

• Haploid: Haploid cells are cells that contain a half set of the entire Plasmodium parasite chromosomes.

• Ookinete: Ookinete is the actively moving zygote form of the Plasmodium parasite that enters the stomach of the female Anopheles mosquito to form an oocyst under the outer lining of the mosquitoes’ gut. Ookinete is the zygote that is motile.

• Diploid: Diploid cells are cells that contain a full set of the Plasmodium parasitechromosomes.

• Zygote: Zygote is the diploid cell formed when the male gamete (microgametocyte) and a female gamete (macrogametocyte) fuse or join together.

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