Comparison Plasmodium

• Plasmodium falciparum (Malignant tertian malaria)

  = Infected RBC

  • Are able to invade RBCs of all ages

  = Infected RBC size

  • Normal

  = RBC inclusion

  • Maurer Dots
• Plasmodium vivax (Benign tertian malaria)

  = Infected RBC

  • Can only invade reticulocytes

  = Infected RBC size

  • Enlarged

  = RBC inclusion

  • Schuffner's Dot (Stain pink to red)
• Plasmodium ovale (Benign tertian malaria)

  = Infected RBC

  • Can only invade reticulocytes

  = Infected RBC size

  • Enlarged

  = RBC inclusion

  • Schuffner's Dot (Stain pink to red)
• Plasmodium malariae (Benign quartan malaria)

  = Infected RBC

  • Can only invade older RBC

  = Infected RBC size

  • Normal

  = RBC inclusion

  • Ziemann Dots (Pink Staining)
• PARASITE STAGE : TROPHOZOITE

  • Plasmodium falciparum (Malignant tertian malariae)

  = NOT USUALLY SEEN in Peripheral Blood.
• PARASITE STAGE : TROPHOZOITE

  • Plasmodium vivax (Benign tertian malaria)

  = Note that the infected RED BLOOD CELLS are ENLARGED and contain SCHUFFNER STIPPLING, and the Trophozoites are large and Ameboid in appearance.

  
• PARASITE STAGE : TROPHOZOITE

  • Plasmodium ovale (Benign tertian malaria)

  = Note that the infected cells are ENLARGED, are OVAL, have FRIDGED EDGES, and CONTAIN SCHUFFNER STIPPLING.

  
• PARASITE STAGE : TROPHOZOITE

  • Plasmodium malariae (Benign quartan malaria)

  = In growing trophozoites the cytoplasm forms a characteristics narrow band across the cell and contains dark brown pigment.

  
• Plasmodium falciparum (Malignant tertia malaria)

  TROPHOZOITE

  = Small Trophozoite

  • Same as P. vivax but with small thread-like blue cytoplasmic circle with one or two small red chromatin dots;

  + Double Chromatin Common

  + Marginal Forms Common

  = Growing Trophozoite

  • Remains in ring form but grows resembling small trophozoite of P. vivax in size.

  + Usually the OLDEST ASEXUAL STAGE seen in the peripheral blood

  = Large Trophozoite

  • Seldom present
• Plasmodium vivax (Benign tertian malaria)

  TROPHOZOITE

  = Small Trophozoite

  • Signet-ring form with heavy red dot and blue cytoplasmic ring.

  
  

  = Growing Trophozoite

  • Like small trophozoite, as above, with increased cytoplasm and ameboid activity;

  + Small yellowish brown pigment granules in cytoplasm, increasing with age of parasite.

  = Large Trophozoite

  • Large mass of chromatin;
  • + LOOSE, IRREGULAR, or CLOSE COMPACT cytoplasm with increasing amount of fine brown pigment.
  • + Parasite fills cell in 30 to 40 hours
• Plasmodium ovale (Benign tertian malaria)

  TROPHOZOITE

  = Small Trophozoite

  • Small, Darker in color, and generally more solid than those of P. falciparum;
  • + Schuffner's dots regularly present in almost 100% of infected cells

  = Growing Trophozoite

  • Resembles closely same stage of P. malariae but is considerably larger;
  • + Pigment is LIGHTER and LESS CONSPICUOUS.

  = Large Trophozoite

  • Seldom present
• Plasmodium malariae (Benign Quartan malaria)

  TROPHOZOITE

  = Small Trophozoite

  • Same as P. vivax but with blue cytoplasmic circle, smaller, thicker and heavier.

  = Growing Trophozoite

  • Chromatin rounded or elongated;

  + Cytoplasm compact or in narrow band across cell: Darker brown granules may have peripheral arrangement

  = Large Trophozoite

  • Chromatin often ELONGATE, indefinite in outline;

  + Cytoplasm dense, compact, in rounded OBLONG or BAND forms;

  + Pigment granules larger, darker than P. vivax parasite fills cells frequently.
• Plasmodium falciparum (Malignant tertian malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Schizont

  • NOT USUALLY SEEN in peripheral blood

  = Schizont (Mature)

  • 8-24 merozoites
  • Smaller than other species.
• Plasmodium vivax (Benign tertian malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Schizont

  • Picture

  = Schizont (Mature)

  • Note the number of merozoites and the presence of BROWN HEMOZOIN PIGMENT
  • 12-24 MEROZOITES; pigment in one to two clumps; parasite almost fills enlarged cells.

  
• Plasmodium ovale (Benign tertian malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Schizont

  • Picture

  = Schizont (Mature)

  • Schizont of P. ovale can be similar to P. vivax
  • Usually 8 MEROZOITES arranged around a central block of pigment.

  
• Plasmodium malariae (Benign Quartan malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Schizont

  • Picture

  = Schizont (Mature)

  • 6-12 (Average of 8-10) merozoites in ROSETTE or DAISY head formation;
  • Parasite almost fills cells

  
• Plasmodium falciparum (Malignant tertian malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Gametocyte

  • Crescent, Banana, Kidney bean or Sausage shape.

  
• Plasmodium vivax (Benign tertian malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Gametocyte

  • Microgametocyte:

  + LIGHT RED to PINK CHROMATIN, Diffuse, Central; gives tint to light blue cytoplasm; yellowish light blue cytoplasm; usually round and about the size of normal RBC

  • Macrogametocyte:

  + SMALL, COMPACT, DARKER RED, ECCENTRIC CHROMATIN; Cytoplasm Dark Blue, No Vacuoles; abundant dark brown pigment scattered throughout the cytoplasm.

  
• Plasmodium ovale (Benign tertian malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Gametocyte

  • Distinguished from P. malariae by size of infected cells and by Schuffners Dots; Less easy to differentiate from P. vivax.

  
• Plasmodium malariae (Benign quartan malaria)

  PARASITE STAGE:

  = Gametocyte

  • Same as P. vivax except smaller; fills or almost fills cells.

  
• EARLY "RING" FORM

  A) Plasmodium falciparum

  B) Plasmodium vivax and ovale

  C) Plasmodium malariae

  
• Trophozoite of Plasmodium falciparum

  = NOT USUALLY SEEN IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD

  Trophozoite of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale

  Trophozoite of Plasmodium malariae

  
• Schizont of Plasmodium falciparum

  = NOT USUALLY SEEN IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD

  Schizont of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale

  Schizont of Plasmodium malariae

  
• Gametocyte of Plasmodium falciparum

  Gametocyte of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale

  Gametocyte of Plasmodium malariae