Plasmodium falciparum – Trophozoites and gametocytes on thick blood smear (MGG)

France, CHU Angers Parasitologie-Mycologie

Thick blood smear method concentrates parasites, but deteriorates their appearance. A trophozoite looks like a round tiny body (nucleus) bearing a spark (cytoplasm). Monotonous pattern orientates towards a diagnosis of P. falciparum infection. Mind a hemozoin-carrying leukocyte.