A 28-year-old traveler from sub-Saharan Africa presents with fever every 48 hours, severe anemia, and peripheral blood smear showing ring forms and banana-shaped gametocytes. No Schüffner's dots are seen. Which Plasmodium species is responsible?
- A Plasmodium falciparum ✓
- B Plasmodium vivax
- C Plasmodium malariae
- D Plasmodium ovale
Correct answer: A. Plasmodium falciparum
Explanation
The banana-shaped (crescent/falciform) gametocytes are pathognomonic for Plasmodium falciparum. Peripheral blood shows only early ring forms because mature trophozoites and schizonts sequester in deep capillaries via cytoadherence mediated by PfEMP1. P. falciparum causes tertian fever and is the most dangerous species responsible for cerebral malaria, severe anemia, and multi-organ failure. P. vivax and P. ovale produce Schüffner's dots (stippling) in infected red cells, which are absent in P. falciparum infection.
Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.