merozoites

Examples of merozoites in the following topics:

• Malaria

  • In the liver, the parasites mature and release another form called merozoites, which enter the bloodstream and infect the red blood cells.
  • In the red blood cells, they develop into ring forms called trophozoites and schizonts that in turn, produce further merozoites.
  • The symptoms that persist due to parasitic infection are a result of the release of merozoites into the bloodstream, destruction of the red blood cells and the free circulation of large amounts of hemoglobin in the red blood cells due to disruption.

• Cyclospora Diarrheal Infection

  • Within the intestinal cells, the sporozoites undergo multiple fission and develop into meronts which contain merozoites.
  • The merozoites then undergo division and produce micro- and macro-gametes representing male and female gametes, respectively.

• Cryptosporidiosis

  • The trophozoites then develop into Type 1 and Type 2 merozoites which can either cause auto infection (Type 1) or undergo releasal and attach the epithelial cells (Type 2).

• Babesiosis

  • These parasites, within the red blood cells, form a distinctive structure called a "Maltese Cross" that is composed of four attached merozoites undergoing asexual budding.