Blood/Blood Cells and Cellular Components ›› Red Blood Cells ›› Abnormal
Infectious-Babesia
›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)
Platelet overlying a RBC (pseudo-parasite)
›Classic Immunophenotype:
- N/A
›Cartoon Image:
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for direct comparison
for direct comparison
›Misc:
Distinguished from malaria by having a tetrad arrangement which is usually diagnostic of babesia
Intracellular parasite (infects RBCs)
Intracellular parasite (infects RBCs)