Gallery of early trophozoites

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The initial infection of the host

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General Comments: At the very earliest point all trophozoites appear as ring forms and species differences are very difficult to distinguish - some "species specific" features may appear as parasites mature toward late trophozoite stages.

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P.falciparum
Small delicate rings, and these may be the only forms seen in some patients at diagnosis. Infected red cells have normal (or slightly crenated) appearance.

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  Fine ring form

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  Double dot form and normal ring

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  Accolé and double dot forms

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  Multiple parasite form

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P.vivax
Rings begin as small forms, but become larger asociated with enlarged distorted red cells as they develop. Schüffner's dots will become present

• Early ring form

  Early ring form

• Early ring form with faint dots

  Early ring form with faint dots

• Llarge thickened ring trophozoite

  Llarge thickened ring trophozoite

• Distorted ting trophozoite and red cell, marked Schüffner's dots

  Distorted ting trophozoite and red cell, marked Schüffner's dots

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P.ovale
Ring form is retained but enlarges, red cells may develop fimbriation and enlarged ovoid form with visible James' dots.

• Early ring form

  Early ring form

• Ring with dots/fimbriation

  Ring with dots/fimbriation

• faint Ziemann's dots

  faint Ziemann's dots

• Ring early ovoid change

  Ring early ovoid change

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P.malariae
Infected red cells are generally infrequent. Early trophozoites are small in normal or small erythrocytes, and may have central chromatin dot, elongation or angular forms.

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  Ring form in small red cell

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  The central chromatin dot

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  Early elongation, Stinton's dots

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  Early angularity of form

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P.knowlesi
The early trophozoite may resembles P.falciparum and infected cells may be frequent. Later forms however begin to resemble parasites of P.malariae.

• Fine early rings

  Fine early rings

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  Double dot (right)

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  Accolé form

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  Multiple infection

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