Plasmodium vivax is a protozoal parasite, which is less virulent than Plasmodium falciparum and found mainly in Asia, Latin America, and in some parts of Africa. This parasite is the most common cause of recurring malaria, which can lead to severe disease and even death. This parasite is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito. Infection with this human malaria parasite causes rupture of infected red blood cells, leading to fever, vessels plugs and tissue oxygen deprivation. Plasmodium vivax may cause splenomegaly as well.

In this set of images, you can see amoeboid form (image A) and schizont forms (images B and C) of the parasite in peripheral blood smear of a patient.