A species of malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) that causes the most dangerous form of malaria in humans.
From Latin falcis (sickle) and parere (to produce). Named for the crescent or sickle shape of the parasite's gametocytes when viewed under a microscope.
Plasmodium falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite on Earth, and scientists named it 'falciparum' because under the microscope, its reproductive forms look like tiny red blood cell-shaped sickles—visible evil!
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