Plasmodium spp. Erythrocytic Stage

The erythrocytic stage of *Plasmodium* species refers to the phase in the malaria parasite’s lifecycle when it infects and multiplies within red blood cells (erythrocytes) of the vertebrate host. This stage is responsible for all clinical manifestations of malaria, including fever, chills, anemia, and complications such as cerebral malaria. Almost all current antimalarial drugs target processes unique or essential to the parasite’s intraerythrocytic development because this is when symptoms occur and transmission can be interrupted by killing gametocytes before they are taken up by mosquitoes.

Other names

Malaria parasite erythrocytic stageIntraerythrocytic PlasmodiumAsexual blood stage of Plasmodium

Varies depending on the drug; examples include inhibition of heme detoxification, inhibition of parasite enzymes, disruption of parasite membrane function.