Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) ASCP Practice Exam

What signifies the development of multiple ring forms in Plasmodium falciparum?

1. Merogony

2. Schizogony

3. Meiosis

4. Fission

The correct answer is: Schizogony

The development of multiple ring forms in Plasmodium falciparum is indicative of schizogony, which is a form of asexual reproduction that occurs in certain protozoa. During this phase, a single parasite undergoes multiple rounds of nuclear division without cell division, leading to the formation of several daughter nuclei. As these nuclei develop, they lead to the formation of ring-shaped structures within red blood cells, which are characteristic of Plasmodium infections, particularly the early stages of malaria. In the context of Plasmodium falciparum, schizogony is vital for the life cycle of the parasite, as it allows for a rapid increase in the number of parasites within the host. This multiplication occurs within the erythrocytic phase, where the parasite invades red blood cells and begins the process of asexual reproduction. Other processes like merogony, meiosis, and fission do not relate specifically to the formation of multiple ring forms in this context. Merogony typically refers to a form of reproduction in certain other protozoa, meiosis involves sexual reproduction and genetic recombination, and fission describes a simpler division method seen in some microorganisms. None of these processes explain the specific observation of ring forms in the