Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium falciparum causes the syndrome Malaria Tropicana, the most erratic form of Malaria with risk of life-threatening complications such as cerebral malaria, renal insufficiency and shock.
Because sometimes very low numbers of erythrocytes are infected with the parasite, it is easy to miss them in a normal blood smear. Therefore, to increase the chances of catching the parasite a "thick drop" or PCR is used.
