The Human Malarial Parasites 



483 



but smaller in size. The pigment is gathered toward the center 

 in a little mass, and eight to twenty-five merozoits are formed in a 

 morula or mulberry-like mass similar to those of the tertian para- 

 site. Two or three parasites to the corpuscle are frequent. They 

 are actively ameboid, do not mature simultaneously, and hence 



9 





Fig. 187.— Parasite of estivo-autumnal fever: a, b, c, Ring-like and cross- 

 like hyaline forms; d, e, pigmented forms; /, g, segmentary forms; h, i, j, 

 crescents. 



there are no regularly occurring paroxysms. The duration of the 

 asexual cycle is from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. 



The gametocytes are striking and characteristic ovoid and cres- 

 centic bodies — crescents — t.]4 times the diameter of a red blood- 

 corpuscle in length, and about half the diameter of the corpuscle 

 in breadth. The ends color more intensely with methylene blue 



Fig. 188. 



Fig. 189. 



Figs. 188, 189. — Gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum: 91, The microga- 

 tnetocyte; 92, the macrogametocyte (Kolle and Wassermann). 



than the middle portion, and the bacillary pigment granules are 

 collected toward the centers. The longer and more slender crescents 

 are usually bent, and the relic of the corpuscle in which they have 

 formed can often be seen forming a line connecting the ends on the 

 concave side. These are the microgametocytes or male elements. 



