Types

• There are four types of plasmodium: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae.
  
  

Life Cycle

• Plasmodium progresses through three distinct forms during its life cycle. They are sporozoite, merozoite and ookinete.
  
  

Sporozoite

• Sporozoites are 10 to 15 micrometers in length and 1 micrometer in diameter. They have a thin outer membrane and a double-layered inner membrane. They have apical organelles, which are specialized units located only on one side of the parasite.
  
  

Merozoite

• Merozoites are an enlarged, ring-shaped form of the parasite which feeds on erythrocytes and produces merozoite buds.
  
  

Ookinete

• Ookinete is the mobile form of the parasite. It travels to the lining of the host's stomach and produces more sporozoites.
  
  

Genome

• The genetic code of Plasmodium falciparum contains 14 chromosomes and 5,300 genes.