Merozoite (Gr. Meros—Part, Zoon—Animal)

A merozoite is an immature form of Plasmodium falciparum. Merozoites are formed in the human body as a result of division of a schizont. Once formed, merozoites exit the red blood cell into the blood plasma and infect new red blood cells.

Thus, the merozoite is an intermediate stage of the development of malarial plasmodium, which ensures the spread of the parasite in the human body by infecting new red blood cells. The name "merozoite" comes from the Greek words "meros" - part and "zoon" - animal, since merozoites are the parts into which the schizont, the animal form of Plasmodium, is divided.