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Plasmodium malariae protozoan inside red blood cells, computer illustration. P. malariae is the causative agent of quartan malaria, also known as malarial malaria. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. The illustration shows the typical morphological features of P. malariae in the mature schizont stage. The mature schizont of P. malariae has 6 to 12 merozoites arranged in rosettes or irregular clusters. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)