| Plasmodium species |
Stages found in blood |
Appearance of Erythrocyte (RBC) |
Appearance of Parasite |
| P. falciparum Images |
Ring Images |
normal;
multiple infection of RBC more common than in other species |
delicate
cytoplasm; 1 to 2 small chromatin dots; occasional appliqué (accollé) forms |
| Trophozoite Images |
normal;
rarely, Maurer's clefts (under certain staining conditions) |
seldom
seen in peripheral blood; compact cytoplasm; dark pigment |
| Schizont Images |
normal;
rarely, Maurer's clefts (under certain staining conditions) |
seldom
seen in peripheral blood; mature = 8 to 24 small merozoites; dark pigment, clumped in one
mass |
| Gametocyte Images |
distorted
by parasite |
crescent
or sausage shape; chromatin in a single mass (macrogametocyte) or diffuse
(microgametocyte); dark pigment mass |
| P. vivax Images |
Ring Images |
normal
to 11/4×, round; occasionally fine Schüffner's dots; multiple infection of
RBC not uncommon |
large
cytoplasm with occasional pseudopods; large chromatin dot |
| Trophozoite
Images |
enlarged
11/2
to 2×; may be distorted; fine Schüffner's dots |
large
ameboid cytoplasm; large chromatin; fine, yellowish-brown pigment |
| Schizont Images |
enlarged
11/2
to
2×; may be distorted; fine Schüffner's dots |
large,
may almost fill RBC; mature = 12 to 24 merozoites; yellowish-brown, coalesced pigment |
| Gametocyte
Images |
enlarged
11/2
to 2×; may be distorted; fine Schüffner's dots |
round
to oval; compact; may almost fill RBC; chromatin compact, eccentric (macrogametocyte) or
diffuse (microgametocyte); scattered brown pigment |
| P. ovale Images |
Ring Images |
normal
to 11/4×; round to oval; occasionally Schüffner's dots; occasionally fimbriated;
multiple infection of RBC not uncommon |
sturdy
cytoplasm; large chromatin |
| Trophozoite
Images |
normal
to 11/4×; round to oval; some fimbriated; Schüffner's dots |
compact
with large chromatin; dark-brown pigment |
| Schizont Images |
normal
to 11/4×; round to oval; some fimbriated; Schüffner's dots |
mature
= 6 to 14 merozoites with large nuclei; clustered around mass of dark-brown pigment |
| Gametocyte
Images |
normal
to 11/4×; round to oval, some fimbriated; Schüffner's dots |
round
to oval; compact; may almost fill RBC; chromatin compact, eccentric (macrogametocyte) or
more diffuse (microgametocyte); scattered brown pigment |
| P.
malariae Images |
Ring
Images |
normal
to 3/4× |
sturdy
cytoplasm; large chromatin |
| Trophozoite Images |
normal
to 3/4×; rarely, Ziemann's stippling (under certain staining conditions)
|
compact
cytoplasm; large chromatin; occasional band forms; coarse, dark-brown pigment |
| Schizont
Images |
normal
to 3/4×; rarely, Ziemann's stippling (under certain staining conditions)
|
mature
= 6 to 12 merozoites with large nuclei, clustered around mass of coarse, dark-brown pigment;
occasional rosettes |
| Gametocyte
Images |
normal
to 3/4×; rarely, Ziemann's stippling (under certain staining conditions)
|
round
to oval; compact; may almost fill RBC; chromatin compact, eccentric (macrogametocyte) or
more diffuse (microgametocyte); scattered brown pigment |
