Blood/Blood Cells and Cellular Components ›› Red Blood Cells ›› Abnormal

Infectious-Babesia*


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› Microscopic Features:

• Multiple parasites may be present within an RBC
• Round to oval ring-shaped and mostly intracellular parasites in RBCs (noted by the yellow arrows)
• The organisms may form a "Maltese cross" after division into four organisms (noted by the Red arrrow)

› Normal % blood-PB, marrow-BM, lymphoid tissue-LN:

• PB: None
• BM: None
• LN: None

› May Resemble:

• Malaria infection [Compare]
• Howell-Jolly body [Compare]
• Pappenheimer bodies [Compare]
• Bacterial contamination [Compare]
• Platelet(s) overlying red blood cell
• Artifacts (e.g. Stain precipitate)

› Differential Diagnoses:

Malaria Platelet overlying a RBC (pseudo-parasite)

› Classic Immunophenotype:

• N/A

› Cartoon Image:


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› Misc:

• Distinguished from malaria by having a tetrad arrangement which is usually diagnostic of babesia Intracellular parasite (infects RBCs)