In a thick blood smear for malaria diagnosis, multiple infected red cells contain a parasite with appliqué (accolé) forms, no enlargement of the RBC, and banana-shaped gametocytes. Which Plasmodium species is present?

• A Plasmodium falciparum ✓
• B Plasmodium vivax
• C Plasmodium malariae
• D Plasmodium ovale

Explanation

Plasmodium falciparum has characteristic features: no RBC enlargement, multiple ring forms per cell, peripheral (appliqué/accolé) ring placement, and crescent/banana-shaped gametocytes. Only early rings and gametocytes are seen in peripheral blood because mature trophozoites and schizonts sequester in deep capillaries. P. vivax shows enlarged RBCs with Schüffner's dots and amoeboid trophozoites. P. malariae shows a 'band form' trophozoite and rosette schizonts in normal-sized RBCs.

Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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