Plasmodium vivax
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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 subsistence of previous attacks as a result of renewed schizogony from latent hepatic sporozoites (hypnozoites)
Genetics
- individuals that do not produce the Duffy antigen (FY(A-B-)) are more resistant to vivax malaria
Laboratory
- Plasmodium identified in blood by light microscopy (peripheral blood smear)
- erythrocytes are enlarged in size (1.5-2 X)
- basophilic stippling seen with all forms, except early ring forms
- all stages may be seen in peripheral blood
- trophozoites appear ameboid
- 12-24 merozoites, average 16
- Plasmodium vivax antigen in blood
- Plasmodium vivax serology
- Plasmodium vivax DNA