Detection of early dividing forms of Plasmodium falciparum in peripheral blood.

P. falciparum schizonts were found in peripheral blood of six malaria patients including two infants who were moderately ill, with parasitaemia ranging from 33920 to 410800 per cubic mm. The patients lived in villages located at an altitude of 680 m and the phenomenon was observed during the cold season when transmission was high. Appearance of these forms was independent of host age.