An ultrastructural study of the pre-erythrocytic development of Plasmodium berghei in the tree rat, Thamnomys surdaster

Abstract

Maturing pre-erythrocytic schizonts of Plasmodium berghei develop within vacuoles in the cytoplasm of hepatic parenchymal cells of Thamnomys surdaster. The cytoplasm of these schizonts is subdivided into island-like units, the pseudocytomeres, around whose periphery the merozoites bud. Each merozoite is surrounded by a double-membraned pellicle covered by tiny microfibrillae. Typical cristate mitochondria were not seen in the schizonts or the merozoites. The developing schizont may obtain its nutrition by pinocytotic uptake of material synthesized in the cytoplasm of the infected host cell, and transferred to the vacuole surrounding the parasite.