Schüffner's dots

Young schizonts almost fill the host cell except for small areas where Schüffner's dots may be found.

Schüffner's dots are rapidly apparent.

Schüffner's dots refers to a hematological finding that is associated with malaria, exclusively found in Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium vivax.

These morphologic changes, referred to as Schüffner's dots, are important in the identification of this species of malarial parasite and have been associated by electron microscopy with caveolavesicle complexes along the erythrocyte plasmalemma.

Some laboratories mistakenly use the same staining pH as they do for routine haematology blood films (pH 6.8): malaria blood films must be stained at pH 7.2, or Schüffner's dots and James's dots will not be seen.