Plasmodium vivax 1 12.jpg

Taxonomy: f. Plasmodidae
Animal: Plasmodium vivax 1 12.jpg
Sites: Blood
Comment:
Plasmodium vivax - thick film with amoeboid trophozoite - note large irregular shape with fine yellow - brown pigment. Only young ring forms may be present in the blood in the early part of the cycle ie 0-12 hours in a 44-48 hour cycle so it may be difficult to diagnose, although rings are generally larger than those of P.falciparum. However, these later trophozoite stages are the typical amoeboid forms with yellow brown pigment of P.vivax and Schuffner's dots will be observed (provided the pH of the stain is > 6.8). Accurate species identification is essential for correct treatment to be administered and a thin film examination is essential to ensure this-- additional information such as the infected red cells being enlarged and pale with Schuffner's dots present assists the diagnosis. (See parasitology textbooks such as Garcia and Bruckner 1997 for details)

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