Electron microscopy of Plasmodium falciparum 1. The structure of trophozoites in erythrocytes of human volunteers

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Abstract
Electron microphotographs of early trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum from human volunteers were compared with those of Plasmodium berghei in the rat. Human and rodent trophozoites exhibited certain general similarities: (1) both lacked a nucleolus, (2) pigment and smooth membrane vesicles were similar, (3) both forms exhibited double limiting membranes, (4) both lacked typical mitochondial forms, (5) both forms exhibited micropyle-type structures which are apparently specialized sites of absorption. Although multilaminated-membraned bodies (whorled-patterns) were present in both forms, P. falciparum differed in that these bodies appeared to be derived from the nuclear membranes; the origin of the body in P. berghei appeared to be more related to the external limiting membranes. The erythrocytic forms of P. berghei showed a great predilection for reticulocytes or younger red cells, but P. falciparum was found only in mature red cells.