A review of Plasmodium ovale. Its life history, distribution, ultrastructure, relationship to …

• Summary
• Introduction
• Life history
• Distribution
• Laboratory diagnosis
• Serologic studies
• Molecular studies
• Infections in chimpanzees and monkeys
• Ultrastructure
• Relationships to other species
• Footnotes
• References
• Figures
• Tables

A limited number of studies have been conducted on the changes that occur when erythrocytes are infected with P. ovale (2, 67, 68). These changes appear to be similar to those seen with the other species of Plasmodium, particularly P. vivax. Asexual parasites possess acristate mitochondria surrounded by a single-membrane pellicle in addition to a parasitophorous vacuole membrane. The gametocytes possess cristate mitochondria surrounded by a three-membrane pellicle in addition to a parasitophorous vacuole membrane (67). Caveola-vesicle complexes are formed along the host cell plasmalemma, probably corresponding to Schüffner's dots. Nodules were observed on the erythrocytes infected with asexual parasites of P. ovale. These nodules had not been described on any other species of malaria parasites (68).