Comparison of the Plasmodium Species Which Cause Human Malaria
Plasmodium Stages found Appearance of Erythrocyte species in blood (RBC) Appearance of Parasite
normal; multiple infection of RBC more delicate cytoplasm; 1-2 small chromatin Ring common than in other species dots; occasional appliqué (accollé) forms normal; rarely, Maurer’s clefts seldom seen in peripheral blood; compact Trophozoite (under certain staining conditions) cytoplasm; dark pigment seldom seen in peripheral blood; mature Schizont normal; rarely, Maurer’s clefts = 8-24 small merozoites; dark pigment, (under certain staining conditions) clumped in one mass
P.falciparum crescent or sausage shape; chromatin in a Gametocyte distorted by parasite single mass (macrogametocyte) or diffuse (microgametocyte); dark pigment mass
normal to 1-1/4 X,round; occasionally fine Ring Schüffner’s dots; multiple infection of RBC large cytoplasm with occasional not uncommon pseudopods; large chromatin dot enlarged 1-1/2–2 X;may be distorted; fine large ameboid cytoplasm; large chromatin; Trophozoite Schüffner’s dots fine, yellowish-brown pigment
enlarged 1-1/2–2 X;may be distorted; fine large, may almost fill RBC; mature = 12-24 Schizont Schüffner’s dots merozoites; yellowish-brown, coalesced
P.vivax pigment
round to oval; compact; may almost fill enlarged 1-1/2–2 X;may be distorted; fine RBC; chromatin compact, eccentric Gametocyte Schüffner’s dots (macrogametocyte) or diffuse (micro- gametocyte); scattered brown pigment
normal to 1-1/4 X,round to oval; occasionally Ring Schüffner’s dots; occasionally fimbriated; sturdy cytoplasm; large chromatin multiple infection of RBC not uncommon normal to 1-1/4 X;round to oval; some compact with large chromatin; Trophozoite fimbriated; Schüffner’s dots dark-brown pigment
normal to 1-1/4 X;round to oval; some mature = 6-14 merozoites with large Schizont fimbriated; Schüffner’s dots nuclei, clustered around mass of
P.ovale dark-brown pigment
round to oval; compact; may almost fill normal to 1-1/4 X;round to oval; some RBC; chromatin compact, eccentric Gametocyte fimbriated; Schüffner’s dots (macrogametocyte) or more diffuse (micro- gametocyte); scattered brown pigment
Ring normal to 3/4 X sturdy cytoplasm; large chromatin
compact cytoplasm; large chromatin; Trophozoite normal to 3/4 X; rarely, Ziemann’s stippling occasional band forms; coarse, dark-brown (under certain staining conditions) pigment
mature = 6-12 merozoites with large Schizont normal to 3/4 X; rarely, Ziemann’s stippling nuclei, clustered around mass of coarse, (under certain staining conditions) dark-brown pigment; occasional rosettes P.malariae round to oval; compact; may almost fill normal to 3/4 X; rarely, Ziemann’s stippling RBC; chromatin compact, eccentric Gametocyte (under certain staining conditions) (macrogametocyte) or more diffuse (micro- gametocyte); scattered brown pigment Keypoints for Plasmodium Species Which Cause Human Malaria
Infected RBCs
Size Shape Schüffner’s Dots
Parasites Found In Circulating Blood
Rings Trophozoites Schizonts (mature) Gametocytes
Rings only Ameboid: PV 6-12 nuclei: PM Crescent: PF (±gametocytes): PF Compact: PO 6-14 nuclei: PO Round: PV Numerous: PF PM PO 12-24: PV PF (rarely seen) PM Multiply infected 8-24: PF (rarely seen) RBCs: PF Band form: PM Rosettes: PM Accessory chromatin dots: PF Delicate: PF
Certain morphologic key characteristics of the infected erythrocytes and parasites Legend can be used to orient the diagnosis towards one of the four Plasmodium species that infect humans, as shown above.These characteristics are by no means absolute, PF: P. falciparum however.The final diagnosis should be based on the combined findings for the various characteristics: what is the most probable species, based on the available findings. PV: P. vivax PO: P. ovale PM: P. malariae