HematologyOutlines - Atlas
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
  • Howell-Jolly body
  • Pappenheimer bodies
  • Bacterial contamination
  • 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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RBC
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› Misc:
  • Distinguished from malaria by having a tetrad arrangement which is usually diagnostic of babesia Intracellular parasite (infects RBCs)