Exercise # 6

SPOROZOA

I. Objectives:
1. To identify correctly the parasites based on the given characteristics.
2. To draw correctly the parasites in focus.
3. To label appropriately the parts of the parasite as seen under the microscope.

II. Overview:

The sporozoans comprise the phylum Sporozoa. Sporozoans are organisms that are
characterized by being one-celled, non-motile, parasitic, and spore-forming. Most of them have an
alternation of sexual and asexual stages in their life cycle. An example of sporozoan is
the Plasmodium falciparum, which is the causative agent of malaria.
The taxon Sporozoa was proposed in 1879 by German zoologist, Karl Georg Friedrich
Rudolf Leuckart. Many sporozoans are parasitic and pathogenic species, such as Plasmodium
(P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. vivax), Toxoplasma gondii, Pneumocysts carinii, Coccidian,
Babesia, Cryptosporidum.
The sporozoans are able to form spore-like cells, from which they get their name.
Sporozoans do not have flagella, cilia, or pseudopodia. They are capable of gliding movements.
All sporozoans are parasites of animals and cause disease.

III. Materials:
Prepared slides:
1. Plasmodium vivax
2. Plasmodium falciparum
3. Cytoisospora belli
4. Taxoplasma gondii
5. Cryptosporidium species

IV. Procedure:
1. Using the description given for each stage of the parasite as a guide, look for the parasite
in each prepared slide.
2. Draw the parasite on the space provided. Drawing should be approximately the same
size as the parasite in focus.
3. Label the parts of the parasite that are visible.

V. Result/Observation:

1. Plasmodium
⮚ Definition of terms:
a. Sporogony – sexual reproduction with the development of spores taking place
in the mosquito
b. Gamete – mature sexual cell
c. Zygote – the cell resulting from the union of the male and female gametes
d. Ookinete – the motile vermicular zygote
 e. Oocyst – the encysted form of the ookinete
f. Sporozoite – the form which develops within the sporocyst and infects the
salivary gland of the mosquito
g. Schizogony – the asexual multiplication of sporozoa by fission, taking place in
the vertebrate host
h. trophozoite – the vegetative or feeding stage of the parasite which contains one
nucleus and develops in the RBC.
i. Schizont – a stage following the trophozoite stage wherein the nucleus has
divided
j. Merozoite – the cell resulting from the final division of a schizont
k. Gametocyte – a sexually differentiated but immature cell
● macrogametocyte – immature female cell
● microgametocyte – immature male cell
l. Pre-erythrocytic cycle – the development of the parasite in the liver cells prior.
to entry into the RBC
m. Erythrocytic cycle – the development of the parasite inside the RBC
n. Exo-erythrocytic cycle – the stage of development of the parasite which takes
place in the liver cells. In this stage, the material
parasites do not contain pigments

⮚ Stages of the Plasmodium species found in the human red blood cell:
1. Plasmodium vivax
- the infected RBC is enlarged

● Early Trophozoite or Ring Form

Shape: delicate ring
Size: 1/3 of the infected RBC
Structures:
= a single fine chromatin dot
= a ring of cytoplasm
Study and draw:

Ring form (OIO)

● Growing Trophozoite (developing trophozoite)

Shape: irregular and amoeboid
Size: large
Structures:
= a single chromatin dot
= cytoplasm is very irregular
 = may observe fine scattered malarial pigments in the
cytoplasm of the parasite
= Schuffner’s dots may be seen as stipplings in the
cytoplasm of the RBC
Study and draw:

Growing trophozoite (OIO)

● Mature Trophozoite
Shape: rounded, somewhat ameboid
Size: the parasite almost fills up the infected RBC
Structures:
= a single chromatin or nucleus, larger dot and surrounded
by a vacuole
= cytoplasm is rounded, occasionally it may appear ameboid
with scattered pigments
= Schuffner’s dots are present
Study and draw:

(OIO)

● Young Schizont
Shape: rounded or somewhat amoeboid
Size: almost fills up the infected RBC
Structures:
= chromatin divides into 2 masses
= cytoplasm is rounded or slightly irregular with scattered
pigments
 = Schuffer’s dots present
Study and draw:

Young schizont (OIO)

● Growing Schizont
Shape: somewhat ameboid
Size: large, almost fills up the infected RBC
Structures:
= chromatin dividing into several irregular masses
= cytoplasm is somewhat amoeboid with scattered pigments
= Schuffer’s dots present
Study and draw:

Growing Schizont (OIO)

● Mature Schizont
Shape: segmented
Size: fills up the infected RBC
Structures:
= consists of merozoites, 12-18 in number; a merozoite
consists of a single chromatin and cytoplasm
= pigments are aggregated
= Schuffner’s dots are present
Study and draw: (Refer to the image above)

(OIO)
● Microgametocyte
Shape: rounded or oval, compact
Size: may fill up the infected RBC
Structures:
= diffuse chromatin, absence of vacuole around the nucleus
= cytoplasm is pale blue with abundant scattered coarse
 pigments
= Schuffner’s dots are numerous
Study and draw

(OIO)
Microgametocyte

● Macrogametocyte
Shape: rounded or oval, compact
Size: may fill up the infected RBC, usually larger than the
microgametocyte
Structures:
= chromatin is compact, peripheral mass, absence of
vacuole around the nucleus
= cytoplasm is deep blue with coarse pigments.
=More pigments are found around the periphery of the
cytoplasm of the parasite
= Schuffer’s dots are abundant
Study and draw: (Refer the image above)

(OIO)

2. Plasmodium falciparum
● Early Trophozoite or Ring Form
Shape: very delicate ring, multiple infection is common, applique
forms are frequent
Size: 1/5 of the infected RBC
Structures:
= fine chromatin dots, usually 2
= bluish ring of cytoplasm
Study and draw:
 Ring form (OIO)

● Microgametocyte
Shape: kidney-shaped with rounded ends
Size: larger than the infected RBC
Structures:
= chromatin is diffused
= cytoplasm is pale blue with abundant, scattered pigments
Study and draw:

Microgametocyte (OIO)

● Macrogametocyte
Shape: crescent-shaped with pointed ends
Size: larger than RBC
Structures:
= the compact chromatin is located near the center
` = the cytoplasm is dark blue with more compact pigments
located near the center
Study and draw:

Macrogametocyte (OIO)
2. Cystoisospora
1. Cystoisospora belli
● Immature Oocyst
Shape: elongate ovoidal
Size: 20-33µm in length, 10-19 µm in width
Structures:
= the cyst wall has 2layers and is smooth, thin and colorless
= inside is the sporoblast, a spherical mass of granules
= in some specimens, a small bud from the single sporoblast
can be seen
Study and draw:

Oocyst (OIO)

3. Toxoplasma
1. Toxoplasma gondii
● Tachyzoite
Shape: ovoidal crescentric bodies
Size: 4-6µm in length; 2-3µm in width
Structures:
= single, purplish nucleus at the center of the parasite
= bluish cytoplasm,
Study and draw the parasite from the intestine of a cat

Tachyzoites
 (OIO)

3. Cryptosporidium
1. Cryptosporidium species
● Oocyst
Shape: round or slightly ovoidal
Size: 4-6µm in diameter
Structures:
= oocyst wall encloses 4 spindle-shaped bodies known as
Sporozoites
= oocysts appear red against a blue background
Study and draw the parasite from the intestine of a cat:

Demonstration (OIO)