Question

The band form of Plasmodium malariae is which stage?

• A. Schizont stage
• B. Trophozoite stage
• C. Merozoite stage
• D. Gametocyte stage

Hint:

A cytoplasmic band stretching across the red cell is the growing form of the parasite.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Identifying malaria species rests on the shape the parasite takes within the red cell. For Plasmodium malariae one diagnostic appearance is a ribbon of cytoplasm laid straight across the cell, the band form.

Step 2: This band is produced by the feeding, enlarging parasite, that is, the trophozoite. As it consumes haemoglobin it elongates into the band shape carrying brown pigment, which makes choice (b) the answer.

Step 3: The other choices describe different points in the life cycle. The schizont of P. malariae divides into roughly eight daughter cells in a daisy-head pattern, the merozoite is the tiny released invader, and the gametocyte is the round sexual cell destined for the mosquito gut. None of these forms a band.

Step 4: Spotting band-form trophozoites on a film is a practical way to flag quartan malaria caused by P. malariae.

\[\boxed{\text{Trophozoite stage}}\]