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Falciparum malaria in naturally infected human patients: II. Ultrastructural alterations to erythrocytes infected with asexual forms
Author(s) -
ElShoura Samir M.,
AlAmari Omar M.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1052150303
Subject(s) - biology , cytoplasm , ultrastructure , plasmodium falciparum , malaria , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , anatomy , immunology
Ultrastructural alterations of human erythrocytes infected with asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum were studied in naturally infected Saudi patients. These included surface knobs and nodules as well as invaginations associated with cytopasmic vesicles observed in erythrocytes infected with asexual forms of the parasites. Such nodules and surface invaginations have been previously described only in erythrocytes infected with P. ovale and P. vivax , respectively. Within the cytoplasm of infected erythrocytes were membrane‐bound clefts, similar to those that appear to be a common characteristic in all red cells infected with malaria parasites. Vacuolations were often seen in the peripheral cytoplasm and may represent hemolyzed areas. Collapsed cells with an internal‐lucent interior and surrounded by an irregularly folded membrane may represent completely hemolyzed erythrocytes. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.