2008年8月7日 星期四

Schizonts and hypnozoites

What are schizonts and hypnozoites? What types of malaria produce them?
Ans:
Schizonts are multinucleated stages of parasites that undergo mitotic division within white cells and are produced by all forms of malaria. Hypnozoites are specialized dormant forms of the malaria parasite within the liver and are produced only by two types of malaria, P. vivax and P. ovale. Hypnozoites reactivate spontaneously weeks or many months after the initial exposure to infective mosquitoes; their release into the blood-stream results in late-onset or relapsing clinical disease. Primaquine is the only available drug that acts on the hypnozoites of P. vivax and P. ovale in the liver.

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New England Journal of Medicine - Vol. 359, No. 6, August 7, 2008

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