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[Plasmodium falciparum] [Plasmodium malariae] [Plasmodium ovale] [Plasmodium vivax]

Plasmodium vivax: Gametocytes

Smears from patients:

Plasmodium vivax gametocytes are round to oval with scattered brown pigment and may almost fill the red blood cell (RBC).  RBCs are enlarged 1 1/2 to 2 × and may be distorted.  Under optimal conditions, Schüffner's dots may appear more fine than those seen in P. ovale.

A	B	C

A, B, C: Gametocytes of P. vivax in thin blood smears.  Schüffner's dots can be seen in B and C.