malaria parasite life cycle involves two hosts.
during a blood meal, a malaria-infected female Anopheles mosquito inoculates
sporozoites into the human host
sporozoites infect liver cells
there the sporozoites mature into schizonts
the schizonts rupture and release merozoites. this initial replication in the liver is called
the exoerythrocytic cycle
merozoites infect RBCs. there the parasite multiplies asexually (called the erythrocytic
cycle). the merozoites develop into ring-stage trophozoite. some then mature into
schizonts
the schizonts rupture, releasing merozoites
some trophozoites differentiate into gametocytes
during a blood meal, an Anopheles mosquito ingests the make (micro gametocytes) and
female (macro gametocytes) gametocytes, beginning the sporogonic cycle
in the mosquito’s stomach the microgametes penetrate the macrogametes, producing
zygotes
the zygotes become motile and elongated, developing into ookinetes
the ookinetes invade the midgut wall of the mosquito where they develop into oocysts
the oocysts grow, rupture and release sporozoites which travel to the mosquitoes
salivary glands
inoculation of the sporozoites into a new human host perpetuates the malaria life cycle
malaria life cycle 1