Sporozoite

Any of the cells resulting from the sexual union of spores during the life cycle of sporozoan. It refers specifically to the elongated nucleated cells produced by the multiple fission of the zygote contained in the oocyst in the female mosquito during the sexual reproductive stage of the life cycle of the malarial parasite Plasmodium. On release from the oocyst, the sporozoites nigrate to the salivary glands of the mosquito, where they are transmitted to humans and develop within the cells of the liver as merozoites.

Related Terms

spores