Plasmodium Species Guide: How to Identify Plasmodium vivax Under the Microscope

 

P. vivax 🍼

• Enlarged, ameboid-shaped cells.

• Schizonts are large and visible in thin film.

• Gametocytes are round, unlike falciparum's banana-shape.

• Also infects reticulocytes (young red blood cells), leading to cell enlargement.

Fig. 1: P. vivax ring-form trophozoites in a thick smear. I seriously doubt that I would know that these are vivax if I saw it in a smear. What about you? Image credit: CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/malaria/index.html)

Fig. 2: Additional P. vivax ring-form trophozoites in a thick smear. Image credit: CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/malaria/index.html)

Fig. 3: An example of P. vivax ring-form trophozoites in a thin smear. Image credit: CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/malaria/index.html)

Fig. 4: Another example of P. vivax ring-form trophozoites in thin smear. This image has more ring-forms in view, than the previous image. Image credit: CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/malaria/index.html)

 

Fig. 5: The amoeboid appearance of P. vivax trophozoites in a thick smear. Image credit: CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/malaria/index.html)

Fig. 6: The amoeboid appearance of P. vivax trophozoites in a thin smear. Image credit: CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/malaria/index.html)

Fig. 7: Plasmodium vivax schizonts in a thin blood smear. On the right is the mature form, and on the left, the immature form. Image credit: Dr. mae Melvin/CDC

Note: P. ovale and P. vivax are not typically found in Ghana, more common in Southeast Asia.

Related Plasmodium falciparum content:

Refer to the blog on How to Identify Malaria Parasites Under the Microscopen Using Giemsa Stain:Giemsa Stained P. falciparum Stages

March 18, 2026 Tags : blood smear , malaria , malaria diagnosis , malaria identification , malaria species , microscopy , parasitology , Plasmodium vivax

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