Differentiation of Plasmodium Clinical Microbiology Review 262
P. FALCIPARUM P. MALARIAE P. OVALE P. VIVAX
Name of disease
Paroxysm cycle
Infected RBCs
Stages seen
Merozoites per
mature schizont
Tertian malaria
44–48 hr
Enlarged. Schüffner’s dots
All
12–24
Malignant malaria
36–48 hr
Not enlarged
Ring forms (trophs) &
gametocytes
Not seen in peripheral
blood
Quartan malaria
72 hr
Not enlarged
All
6–12
Ovale malaria
48 hr
Sometimes enlarged. Fre-
quently oval with ragged
margins. Schüffner’s dots
All
8–12
(From Leventhal R, Cheadle RF. Medical
Parasitology: A Self-Instructional Text,
5th ed. Philadelphia: FA Davis; 2002:119.)
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