Plasmodium Falciparum in Thick and Thin Films

Plasmodium Falciparum in Thick and Thin Films

Thick Smear: Maurer's Cleft/Spot

Thin Smear: Maurer's Cleft/Spot

Thin Smear (TOP): Gametocyte
Thick Smear (Bottom): Gametocyte 

Background Information of Plasmodium Vivax

Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal human protozoan parasite in the Plasmodium species that is responsible in the incidence of malaria and is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. It has the highest rates of complications and mortality with an estimated 247 million human malarial infections (98% in Africa, 70% being 5 years or younger) as of 2006. Crucially, almost every malarial death is caused by P. falciparum infection. The Sub-Saharan Africa is attributed with the highest prevalence. , >75% of cases in most African countries were diagnosed as P. falciparum infection. Fortunately, in other parts of the world with malaria transmission the other less virulent plasmodial species predominate. 

 

It has a periodicity of 36-48 hours and an incubation period of 8-11 days

Cellular Description

 

The hall mark of Plasmodium Falciparum infection is the presence of headphone-like maurer's cleft/spot in RBCs. RBCs in this infection are usually not enlarged. Only young trophozoites and gametocytes can be seen in PBFs.