Plasmodium ovale
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Pathology
- P. ovale & P. vivax infect primarily younger erythrocytes
- P. ovale & P. vivax differ from P. falciparum & P. malariae in that relapses may occur weeks to months following previous attacks as a result of renewed schizogony from latent hepatic sporozoites (hypnozoites)
Laboratory
- Plasmodium identified in blood by light microscopy (peripheral blood smear)
- erythrocytes are enlarged in size (1.2-1.5 X)
- 20% of infected erythrocytes are oval in shape
- stippling seen with all forms, except early ring forms
- all stages may be seen in peripheral blood
- trophozoites appear rounded & compact, occasionally ameboid
- 6-14 merozoites, average 8
- Plasmodium ovale serology
- Plasmodium ovale DNA