CDC - DPDx/ Alexander J. da Silva, PhD, Melanie Moser
- Mosquito feeds on an infected person who has circulating gametocytes
- Sporogeonic (sexual) cycle occurs in the mosquito
- Mosquito feeds on susceptible person injecting sporozoites
- Sporozoites travel through blood vessels to the liver and infects liver cells
- Parasite grows to schizont stage where it ruptures merozoites
- Merozoites infect red blood cells in the circulation
- First stage immature trophozoite (ring form) grows to mature trophozoite that multiplies for binary fission asexually to become a mature schizont
- Mature schizonts rupture releasing merozoites that can infect more RBCs
- After several cycles, merozoites differenciate into male and female gametocytes
- Gametocytes can then be ingested by a mosquito taking a blood meal and the cycle begins again
- In cases of P. vivax and P. ovale hypnozoites form in the liver and can reactivate malaria months or years later for a true relapse
