A study of human malaria oocysts as an aid to species diagnosis

Abstract

While the sporozoites of the various human plasmodia are very similar and difficult to separate in field examinations, the oocysts are quite distinct and readily separable. Oocyst counts are also more reliable than sporozoite counts in determining the degree of infection present in any mosquito population. Methods of recognition of the oocysts of Plasmodium ovale, P. malariae, P. vivax and P. falciparum are given, as also are those for separating the 2 avian forms - P. relictum and P. gallinaceum -and the 2 simian forms[long dash]P. cynomolgi and P. inui. The effect of certain drugs on the appearance of the various oocysts is also descr.