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

Developing trophozoites of P. falciparum tend to remain in ring form, but may become thicker and more compact.  The amount of pigment and chromatin may also increase.  Compact or amoeboid forms may be seen in smears where there was a delay in processing the blood.

A	B

A: Trophozoites of P. falciparum in a thick blood smear
B: Trophozoite of P. falciparum in a thin blood smear.

C	D

C, D: Trophozoites of P. falciparum in thin blood smears.  In Figure D, a gametocyte can also be seen in the upper half of the image.

 

E	F

E, F: Trophozoites of P. falciparum in thin blood smears.