Sporozoites of Plasmodium; approximate length of each = 10 µm.

This life cycle

stage is produced by the oocyst, migrates to the mosquito's salivary glands, and is
injected when the mosquito feeds.
Oocysts of Plasmodium on the surface of a mosquito gut. The dark material is
partially digested blood inside of the mosquito gut.
Gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum in a blood smear.
Ring stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Note the multiple infections of some cells.
Trophozoites (late ring stages) of Plasmodium falciparum.
Plasmodium falciparum trophs and early schizonts.
Figure 1. Giemsa-stained thin blood films depicting A) ring stage, B) tenue form of young
trophozoite, C) band-shaped growing trophozoite, D) growing trophozoite with little or no
amoeboid activity, E) double growing trophozoites, F) early schizont, G) late schizont in an
erythrocyte with fimbriated margins, and H) mature macrogametocyte. Discernible Sinton and
Mulligan stippling is in C, D, and F.
Morphology of Plasmodium knowlesi in a Giemsa-stained thin blood smear.
Infected erythrocytes were not enlarged, lacked Schuffner stippling, and contained
much pigment. Shown are examples of trophozoites (A–F), a schizont (G), and a
gametocyte (H). Scale bars = 5 μ m.
Giemsa-stained thin smears of Plasmodium knowlesi infecting human red blood
cells. Various life stages shown: early trophozoite (top left), late trophozoites (top
right), schizont (bottom left), gametocyte (bottom right).
Images of representative stages from tightly synchronized P. knowlesi cultures. Parasitized RBCs
observed by light microscopy (Giemsa stain). Developing schizonts are observed as soon as 18 h
after RBC invasion by synchronized merozoites. Nearly mature and mature schizonts are detected
21 h after invasion and can be observed until burst and merozoite release 24 h after RBC invasion.
Scale bar: 5 μm
Schizonts of P. knowlesi; Increasingly mature schizonts.