Plasmodium species
Plasmodium falciparum, early trophozoites with Maurer's clefts, thin blood film
Early trophozoites (ring forms) are the most commonly seen stage of Plasmodium falciparum in peripheral blood films. Less commonly, gametocytes are also seen. The ring forms of P. falciparum are thin and delicate, being less than 1/3 of the diameter of the infected red blood cells, and commonly take on applique forms and "head-phone" forms. The size of the infected cells are the same as the surrounding uninfected cells. Rarely, Maurer's clefts may be seen; they are relatively large red 'comma-shaped' inclusions. In comparison to Schuffner's dots (which may be seen in red blood cells infected with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale), they are larger and fewer.
Plasmodium falciparum, early trophozoites, thick blood film
Early trophozoites (ring forms) are the most commonly seen stage of Plasmodium falciparum in peripheral blood films. Less commonly, gametocytes are also seen. The ring forms of P. falciparum are thin and delicate, and may occasionally have a double chromatin dot (producing the so-called 'head-phone' forms). Since this is a thick blood film, the red blood cells have been lysed and therefore, the size of the ring forms in comparison to the size of the red blood cells cannot be appreciated.
Plasmodium falciparum, early trophozoites, thin blood film
Early trophozoites (ring forms) are the most commonly seen stage of Plasmodium falciparum in peripheral blood films. Less commonly, gametocytes are also seen. The ring forms of P. falciparum are thin and delicate, being less than 1/3 of the diameter of the infected red blood cells, and commonly take on applique forms and "head-phone" forms. The size of the infected cells are the same as the surrounding uninfected cells. Rarely, Maurer's clefts may be seen, but are not present in the images here.