MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Malaria, microscopic view of cellular parasites

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Malaria, microscopic view of cellular parasites

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites that are carried by mosquitoes. Once in the bloodstream, the parasite inhabits the red blood cell (RBC). This picture shows purple-stained malaria parasites inside red blood cells.

Update Date: 3/1/2004

Updated by: Michael C. Milone, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA.

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