|
P. falciparum |
P. vivax |
P. malariae |
P. ovale |
RBC Size |
Not enlarged |
Enlarged |
Not enlarged |
Enlarged |
RBC Shape |
Round, sometimes crenated |
Round or oval, frequently bizarre |
Round |
Round or oval, often fimbriated |
RBC Colour |
Normal, but may become darker; may have a purple rim |
Normal to pale |
Normal |
Normal |
Stipling |
Maurer's
spots, appear as large red spots, loops and clefts; up to 20 or fewer. |
Schuffner's dots, appear as small red dots, numerous. |
Ziemann's dots, few tiny dots, rarely detected |
Schuffner's dots (James's dots). Numerous small red dots. |
Pigment |
Black or dark brown; in asexual forms as one or two masses; in gametocytes
as about 12 rods |
Seen as a haze of fine golden brown granules
scattered through the cytoplasm |
Black or brown coarse granules; scattered |
Intermediate between P. vivax and
P. malariae |
Early trophozoite (ring) |
Smallest, delicate; sometimes two chromatin dots; multiple rings
commonly found
 |
Relatively large; one chromatin dot, sometimes two; often two
rings in one cell
 |
Compact; one chromatin dot; single
 |
Compact; one chromatin dot; single
 |
Schizont |
Medium size; compact; numerous chromatin masses; coarse pigments; rarely
seen in peripheral blood
 |
Large; amoeboid; numerous chromatin masses; fine
pigments
 |
Small; compact; few chromatin masses; coarse
pigments
 |
Medium size; compact; few chromatin masses; coarse
pigments
 |
Gametocyte |
Crescent shaped, larger and slender; central
chromatin
 |
Spherical; compact
 |
Similar to P. vivax, but smaller and less numerous
 |
Like P. vivax, but smaller
 |
