Figures & data
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of patients with malaria and healthy control patients.
Figure 1. The life cycle of Plasmodium spp and platelet-associated parasite killing during erythrocytic stage. Platelet factor 4 (PF4) was released by platelets following cell-to-cell contacts with Plasmodium-infected red blood cells (iRBC). PF4 enters the cell via Duffy-antigen (Fy) and kills Plasmodium directly.
Figure 2. Platelets attach to iRBC in clinical malaria peripheral blood specimens. Platelet-bound iRBC images were captured from a thick blood smear stained with Giemsa at ×1000 magnification utilizing the digital microimaging system with MshOt software.
Figure 3. Platelets enlarge in apparent size in the formation of platelet–iRBC aggregates. (A) Platelets adhere to uninfected erythrocytes in healthy controls. (B) Platelets bind to P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes at the ring stage. (C) Platelets attach to erythrocytes infected with P. vivax at the gametocyte stage. (D) Platelets cling to erythrocytes infected with P. ovale at the trophozoite stage. (E) Platelets bond to P. malariae-infected erythrocytes at the trophozoite stage. (F) Platelets volume comparison.
Figure 4. Platelet-associated parasite killing in all four major Plasmodium species. (A) Cytotoxic effect mediated by platelets. (B) Platelet counts comparison.
Supplemental Material
Download TIFF Image (33.1 MB)Supplemental Material
Download MS Word (11.8 KB)Data availability statement
Clinical, laboratory, treatment and outcome information were gathered from hospital electronic health care records using data collection forms. The blood smears are kept in the department of clinical laboratory. Any further questions should be directed to the corresponding author.