Maltese cross appearance in peripheral blood smear is seen in which of the following infections?: (A) Plasmodium falciparum, (B) Babesia microti, (C) Leishmania chagasi, (D) Trypanosoma cruzi
Answer is B. In blood smears, Babesia spp. superficially resemble P. falciparum ring stages, but lack hemozoin pigment, exhibit greater pleomorphism, and form characteristic tetrads (Maltese cross), which are diagnostic, if found.