What is the Difference Between Schizogony and Sporogony

The main difference between schizogony and sporogony is that schizogony is the multiplication stage of the protozoan life cycle, whereas sporogony is the spore-forming stage of the protozoan life cycle.

Schizogony and sporogony are two types of life stages of protozoans. Parasites have complex life cycles that take place both inside and outside the human host.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Schizogony
– Definition, Features, Importance
2. What is Sporogony
– Definition, Features, Importance
3. Similarities Between Schizogony and Sporogony
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Schizogony and Sporogony
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Schizogony, Sporogony

Difference Between Schizogony and Sporogony - Comparison Summary

What is Schizogony

Schizogony is the stage of the life cycle that follows the sporogony. The sporozoites, the cell that infects the human host, inoculate inside the host to undergo asexual multiplication, forming merozoites. It is an endogenous process that occurs inside the human host. For instance, Plasmodium sporozoites develop inside the mosquito’s salivary gland, and it is the vector for the transmission of the disease malaria. Furthermore, they leave the mosquito during the blood meal to enter the liver of the human host. There, sporozoites undergo multiplication, bursting the cells with merozoites into the bloodstream.

Compare Schizogony and Sporogony - What's the difference?

Figure 1: Sporozoite

Moreover, sporozoites are motile and move through gliding.

What is Sporogony

Sporogony is the process of the asexual reproduction stage occurring inside the vector. For instance, the vector of the protozoan, Plasmodium, is the Anopheles mosquito. Multiple mitotic divisions of the oocyte of the parasite give rise to the sporozoites that infect the host. These sporozoites accumulate inside the salivary glands of the vector. Sporogony begins when the host’s gametocyte enters the vector’s gut. Male and female gametes involve in the production of sporozoites.

Schizogony vs Sporogony

Figure 2: Babesia Life Cycle

Moreover, after infection, each sporozoite grows in liver cells to form a large and rounded schizont. Each divide to form thousands of small, spindle-shaped merozoites. This occurs through a multiple-fission event called schizogony. In the merozoite stage, cells divide in a process called segmentation, a type of asexual reproduction. These merozoites undergo schizogony. Before undergoing schizogony, merozoites are called schizozoites. However, sporogony is the repeated division of the zygote.

Similarities Between Schizogony and Sporogony

  • Schizogony and sporogony are two types of life cycles of protozoans that infect humans.
  • These are two essential stages of the protozoans in infecting the human host.

Difference Between Schizogony and Sporogony

Definition

Schizogony refers to asexual reproduction by multiple fission, found in some protozoa, especially parasitic sporozoans, while sporogony refers to the asexual process of spore formation in parasitic sporozoans.

Significance

Schizogony is the multiplication stage of the protozoans, while sporogony is the spore-forming stage of the parasitic protozoans.

Occurrence

Schizogony occurs inside the human host, while sporogony occurs outside the host.

Gametocyte Involvement

Schizogony does not involve gametocytes, while sporogony involves gametocytes.

Process

Schizogony is an endogenous process, while sporogony is an exogenous process.

Host

Schizogony occurs inside the human host, while sporogony occurs inside the vector: the mosquito.

Type of Cells Formed

Schizogony forms merozoites, while sporogony forms sporozoites.

Conclusion

In brief, schizogony and sporogony are two stages of the life cycle of parasitic protozoans. Schizogony is the multiplication stage of protozoans that occurs inside the host. However, it does not involve the gametocyte. Besides, it is an endogenous process that forms cells called merozoites. In comparison, sporogony is the spore-forming stage of the parasitic protozoan. Also, it occurs outside the human host. Gametocytes involve in the process of sporogony, which is an exogenous process occurring inside the mosquito. Therefore, the main difference between schizogony and sporogony is the life cycle stages.

References:
  1. Wikimedia Foundation. (2023d, March 3). Apicomplexan life cycle. Wikipedia. 
Image Courtesy:
  1. Ookinete, sporozoite, merozoite” By Jrockley – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
  2. Babesia life cycle human en.” By Mariana Ruiz Villarreal – Own Work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

About the Author: Lakna

Lakna, a graduate in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, is a Molecular Biologist and has a broad and keen interest in the discovery of nature related things. She has a keen interest in writing articles regarding science.

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