Plasmodium falciparum - Trophozoites and gametocytes on thin blood smear

France, Pays Jean-François

Young trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum, or ring forms, have a blue cytoplasm containing a hyaline vacuole and a purple nucleus. The size is about 1/3 of diameter of the red blood cell, which has a normal shape. Mature gametocytes of P. falciparum are crescent or sausage-shaped. Both hemozoin and dark red nucleus are localized in the center.