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PROTOZOA
Malaria

Plasmodium falciparum
RINGS
Delicate rings; may have two dots of chromatin;
apliqué or accolé forms (looks like they are attached to
erythrocyte membrane).

Multiple infection more

frequent.
All sizes of RBCs.

A - Cytoplasm ring
B - Chromatin P. falciparum rings; multiple infection
C - Ring with two
chromatin dots
D - RBC with multiple
infection

P. falciparum rings; accollé form

P. falciparum rings
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Plasmodium falciparum ... MACROGAMETOCYTE

The gametocytes of P.
falciparum have banana
OLDER TROPHOZOITE form. The chromatin mass of
the macrogametocyte is
compact; dark red and in the
P. falciparum old center. The cytoplasm is blue
trophozoite with to violet. The Pigment is
Maurer’s dots concentrated round
chromatin.
In older stages of the
A Chromatin
trophozoite; there may
B Cytoplasm
appear the Maurer's C Pigment
dots. They are only
visible; if there was
correct pH (7.2) in the
staining-solution-buffer.

A - Older trophozoite
B - Maurer’s dots
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Plasmodium falciparum ...

MICROGAMETOCYTE
The gametocytes of P.
falciparum have banana
form. The form is more
stumpy than in the
macogametocyte. Chromatin
mass larger; more diffuse;
loose; light red fragments
and filaments. Cytoplasm
from violet to pink; always
more reddish than in
macrogametocyte. Pigment is
scattered.

A Chromatin
B Cytoplasm
C Pigment
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RING
Plasmodium vivax
Delicate ring; RBC larger
GROWING TROPHOZOITE; SCHÜFFNER'S DOTS than normal; deformed.

Very amoeboid A Cytoplasm

B Chromatin
trophozoite; enlarged
RBCs and deform ed.
Schüffner's dots appear
after 8-10 hours.

A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin
C Schüffner's dots
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Plasmodium vivax...
MATURE SCHIZONT
Contains 12-24 merozoites;
pigment in 1 or 2 clumps;
MACROGAMETOCYTE peripheral or central.
Chromatin small; eccentric
and dark red. Cytoplasm A Merozoite
homogeneous; blue; without B Pigment
vacuoles; pigment scattered. C Schüffner's dots
Macrogametocyte fills the
RBC.

A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin
C Pigment
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Plamodium vivax
Plasmodium vivax ... Ruptured schizont

Microgametocyte RBCs membran ruptured and the merozoites (up to 24) are set
free to infect new RBCs.
Chromatin mass larger than in microgametocyte; eccentric or
central; diffuse; light red. Cytoplasm from light blue to pink. A Merozoite
Pigment finer; scattered; microgametocyte is smaller than the B Pigment
RBC.

A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin
C Pigment
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Immature schizont
Plasmodium vivax ...
Looks like a growing trophozoite with several chromatins. The
Exflagellation and ring single merozoite is not yet defined.

Under certain circumstances the microgametocyte of P. vivax B Pigment

can exflagellate in a thin film of human blood; a process that C Schüffner's dots
normally takes place in the vector's gut. There the
microgamete (male) undergo a nuclear division and become
motile to find and to penetrate the female macrogamete.
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Plamodium ovale
Plasmodium ovale Young trophozoite

Growing trophozoite; Schüffner's dots No more ringform; enlarged RBCs; sometimes with fimbriated
edges (oval). Schüffner's dots appear in the beginning and
Less ameboid trophozoite; enlarged RBCs; sometimes with more pronounced than in P. vivax.
fimbriated edges (oval). Sch¸ffner's dots appear in the
beginning and more pronounced than in P. vivax. A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin
A Cytoplasm C Schüffner's dots
B Chromatin
C Schüffner's dots
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Plamodium ovale Plamodium ovale
Young schizont Ring form

Immature schizont with three to four nuclei (chromatin). Enlarged RBCs; sometimes with fimbriated edges (oval).
Pigment is not visible. Schüffner's dots appear in the beginning and more pronounced
than in P. vivax.
A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin A Cytoplasm
C Schüffner's dots B Chromatin
D Pigment C Schüffner's dots
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Plamodium ovale Plamodium ovale
Macrogametocyte Microgametocyte

Enlarged RBCs; chromatin small; eccentric and dark red.
Cytoplasm homogeneous; blue; without vacuoles; pigment
scattered. Macrogametocyte smaller than the RBC.
A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin
Chromatin mass larger than in microgametocyte; eccentric or
central; diffuse; light red. Cytoplasm from light blue to pink.
Pigment finer; scattered; microgametocyte is smaller than the
RBC.
A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin
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Plamodium ovale
Mature schizont

Contains 8 merozoites; separately visible; pigment in 1 or 2

clumps; peripheral or central.

B Merozoite (chromatin with cytoplasm)

D Pigment
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Plamodium malariae
Plasmodium malariae Young schizont
Plamodium malariae
Growing trophozoite (band form) Enlarged cytoplasm; four
nuclei (chromatin); RBC
Without pseudopodia; rounded or bandshaped; vacuoles small normal to smaller size.
or absent; no stippling. RBCs normal to smaller size.
A Cytoplasm
A Cytoplasm B Chromatin
B Chromatin

Pigment is beginning to
concentrate
(brownish/yellowish).

A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin
C Pigment
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Plamodium malariae Plamodium malariae
Growing trophozoite (band form) Older trophozoite

Without pseudopodia; rounded or bandshaped; vacuoles small Compact cytoplasm; less vacuoles; no stippling.
or absent; no stippling. RBCs normal to smaller size.
A Cytoplasm
A Cytoplasm B Chromatin
B Chromatin
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Plamodium malariae Plamodium malariae
Ruptured schizont Macrogametocyte

RBC bursted; single merozoites visible (8 counts). Chromatin small; eccentric and dark red. Cytoplasm
homogeneous; blue; without vacuoles; pigment scattered.
A Cytoplasm Macrogametocyte fills the RBC but smaller than P. vivax.
B Chromatin
C Pigment A Cytoplasm
D Single merozoite B Chromatin
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Plamodium malariae Plamodium malariae
Mature schizont Growing trophozoite (band form)

Single merozoites visible (up to 8 counts). Without pseudopodia; rounded or bandshaped; vacuoles small
or absent; no stippling. RBCs normal to smaller size.
A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin A Cytoplasm
B Chromatin