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The malaria parasite life cycle involves two hosts. During a blood meal, a malaria-infected female Anopheles mosquito inoculates sporozoites into the human host 
. Sporozoites infect liver cells 
and mature into schizonts 
, which rupture and release merozoites 
. (Of note, in P. vivax and P. ovale
a dormant stage [hypnozoites] can persist in the liver and cause
relapses by invading the bloodstream weeks, or even years later.) After
this initial replication in the liver (exo-erythrocytic schizogony 
), the parasites undergo asexual multiplication in the erythrocytes (erythrocytic schizogony 
). Merozoites infect red blood cells 
. The ring stage trophozoites mature into schizonts, which rupture releasing merozoites 
. Some parasites differentiate into sexual erythrocytic stages (gametocytes) 
. Blood stage parasites are responsible for the clinical manifestations of the disease.
. Sporozoites infect liver cells and mature into schizonts , which rupture and release merozoites . (Of note, in P. vivax and P. ovale
a dormant stage [hypnozoites] can persist in the liver and cause
relapses by invading the bloodstream weeks, or even years later.) After
this initial replication in the liver (exo-erythrocytic schizogony ), the parasites undergo asexual multiplication in the erythrocytes (erythrocytic schizogony ). Merozoites infect red blood cells . The ring stage trophozoites mature into schizonts, which rupture releasing merozoites . Some parasites differentiate into sexual erythrocytic stages (gametocytes) . Blood stage parasites are responsible for the clinical manifestations of the disease.
The gametocytes, male (microgametocytes) and female (macrogametocytes), are ingested by an Anopheles mosquito during a blood meal 
. The parasites’ multiplication in the mosquito is known as the sporogonic cycle 
. While in the mosquito's stomach, the microgametes penetrate the macrogametes generating zygotes 
. The zygotes in turn become motile and elongated (ookinetes) 
which invade the midgut wall of the mosquito where they develop into oocysts 
. The oocysts grow, rupture, and release sporozoites 
, which make their way to the mosquito's salivary glands. Inoculation of the sporozoites 
into a new human host perpetuates the malaria life cycle.
. The parasites’ multiplication in the mosquito is known as the sporogonic cycle . While in the mosquito's stomach, the microgametes penetrate the macrogametes generating zygotes . The zygotes in turn become motile and elongated (ookinetes) which invade the midgut wall of the mosquito where they develop into oocysts . The oocysts grow, rupture, and release sporozoites , which make their way to the mosquito's salivary glands. Inoculation of the sporozoites into a new human host perpetuates the malaria life cycle. 
