Movement of the Sporozoites of Plasmodium berghei (Vincke et Lips, 1948)

Abstract

AT several points in their complex life-cycle malaria parasites are bound to leave their intracellular or ‘intramural’ existence to assume a temporary vagrant and free life. The movements of these developmental stages of the plasmodia may be studied in vitro in a few instances such as the exflagellation of the microgametocyte and the movements of the male gamete, or the motions of the cryptozoites of avian malaria and their engulfment by phagocytic cells as recorded by the slow-motion ciné-camera¹. Other active movements, like the penetration of the merozoites into erythrocytes, have only rarely been glimpsed at by a lucky or persevering observer². The actual mode of locomotion of the ookinetes (known also as the travelling vermicule) and the active movements of sporozoites of mammalian plasmodia have never been recorded since Schaudin's publication in 1902 (ref. 3) and the numerous unsuccessful attempts to repeat his observations⁴.