Plasmodium malariae

Plasmodium malariae

In contrast with P.vivax and P.ovale, P.malariae can infect only mature erythrocytes with relatively rigid cell membranes. As a result, the parasite’s growth must conform to the size and shape of red blood cell.  

This requirement produces no red cell enlargement or distortion, but it results in distinctive shapes of the parasite seen in the host cell, “band and bar forms” as well as very compact dark staining forms. The schizont of P.malariae is usually composed of eight merozoites appearing in a rosette.

Epidemiology  

P. malariae infection occurs primarily in the same sub-tropical and temperate regions as infections with the other plasmodia but is less prevalent. 

Clinical Features 

The incubation period for P. malariae is the longest of the plasmodia, usually 18 to 40 days, but possibly several months to years. The early symptoms are flu-like with fever patterns of 72 hours (quartan or malarial) in periodicity.  

Treatment  

Treatment is similar to that for P.vivax and P.ovale. 

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