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[Plasmodium falciparum] [Plasmodium knowlesi] [Plasmodium malariae] [Plasmodium ovale] [Plasmodium vivax]

Developing trophozoites of P. vivax become increasingly amoeboid, with tenuous pseudopodial processes and large vacuoles.  Schüffner's dots are visible with proper staining.  Pigment tends to be fine and brown.  Infected RBCs are usually noticeably larger than uninfected RBCs.

A	B

A, B: Trophozoites of P. vivax in thin blood smears.  Note the amoeboid appearance, Schüffner's dots and enlarged infected RBCs.

C	D

C, D: Trophozoites of P. vivax in thin blood smears.  Note the amoeboid appearance, Schüffner's dots and enlarged infected RBCs.

E	F

E, F: Trophozoites of P. vivax in a thin blood smear.  Note the band-like appearance of the trophozoite in Figure F that may be mistaken for a band-form trophozoite of P. malariae.  Note however the fine, light brown pigment that is distributed throughout the cytoplasm (pigment in P. malariae is usually darker and coarser and distributed on the periphery of the cytoplasm).  The infected RBCs are also noticeably larger than the uninfected RBCs.