Amastigote

An amastigote is a specific form of certain parasites, notably those in the Leishmania genus, during a stage of their life cycle inside the host's cells. Unlike other forms that have a whip-like tail called a flagellum, amastigotes are oval-shaped and lack this tail. They multiply within immune cells such as macrophages, evading the immune response and causing disease symptoms. Recognizing the amastigote form helps in diagnosing infections like leishmaniasis and understanding how these parasites survive inside the body.