Introduction to Diagnostic Medical Parasitology
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  • Exercises for plasmodia
    • Which shape does the parasite have?
      • Ring form with 1 nucleus or 2
        • What is the aspect of the ring form (young trophozoite) and its host cell?
          • Ring form with 1 or 2 nuclei, ring fragile,sometimes accollé; often multiple rings per cell
          • Ring thick, parasitized erythrocyte normal size with Maurer’s clefts
          • Ring thick, medium size, cytoplasm compact, no Schüffner’s dots or Maurer’s clefts. Parasitized erythrocyte normal size or even smaller
          • Ring thick and big, no Schüffner’s dots or Maurer’s clefts. Parasitized erythrocyte enlarged
          • Ring thick and big with Schüffner’s dots. Parasitized erythrocyte enlarged, oval
      • Parasite with 1 nucleus, irregularily shaped or almost as big as erythrocyte (amoeboid trophozoite or gametocyte with compact cytoplasm)
        • Are vacuoles visible in the parasite?
          • The parasite has no vacuoles (gametocyte)
            • What is the shape of the parasite?
              • Gametocyte is (Macrogametocyte (left): blue cytoplasm, elongated, chromatin mass concentrated in the middle Microgametocyte(right): more stumpy, cytoplasm more redish, chromatin mass diffuse)
              • Gametocyte is round or oval
                • Which changes of the parasitized erythrocyte can be observed?
                  • Parasitized erythrocyte is larger than normal erythrocyte, round, Schüffner’s dots present
                  • Parasitized erythrocyte enlarged, oval with fimbriated edges and pronounced Schüffner’s dots
                  • Parasitized erythrocyte not enlarged or even smaller, no Schüffner’s dots or Maurer`s clefts
          • The parasite contains one or several small vacuoles (mature trophozoite)
            • What is the shape of the parasite and its host cell?
              • Parasite has an amoeboid form; parasitized erythrocyte enlarged with Schüffner’s dots
              • Parasite has an amoeboid form; parasitized erythrocyte enlarged, oval with fimbriated edges and pronounced Schüffner’s dots
              • Parasitized has a band form; erythrocyte not enlarged or even smaller, no Schüffner’s dots or Maurer`s clefts
      • Parasite with more than 1 nucleus, almost as big as erythrocyte (schizont)
        • How many nuclei (merozoites) are visible within the schizont?
          • More than 12 (up to 24) merozoites
          • Less than 12 merozoites
            • What are the characteristic signs of the parasitized erythrocyte?
              • Erythrocyte enlarged (round), with Schüffner’s dots; Merozoites not clearly separated (immature schizont)
              • Erythrocyte enlarged (oval with fimbriated edges), with Schüffner’s dots; Merozoites not clearly separated (immature schizont) or clearly separated (mature schizont)
              • Erythrocyte not enlarged or even smaller, no Schüffner’s dots or Maurer’s clefts, merozoites arranged in rosettes with central brown-yellow pigment
      • Parasite is banana-shaped (Macrogametocyte (left): blue cytoplasm, elongated, chromatin mass concentrated in the middle Microgametocyte(right): more stumpy, cytoplasm more redish, chromatin mass diffuse)