Plasmodium Falciparum Blood Smear. Key features suggesting Plasmodium falciparum: - extreme parasitemia - normocytic RBCs (vivax, ovale prefer big reticulocytes) - thin trophozoites - multiples per RBC - "applique" edge forms - P. falciparum causes ~75% of human malaria cases - Banana-shaped gametocytes are only in P.f. but rare in blood smears - don't count on seeing these! - Seeing ONLY trophs/rings, no schizonts/gametocytes, (in my experience) is more common in P.f. Rich Davis, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS @richdavisphd #Plasmodium #Falciparum #Blood #Smear.#peripheral #clinical #microscopy #microbiology #malaria
