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'Plasmodium malariae' is a parasitic protozoa that causes malaria in both humans and dogs. It is closely related to ''Plasmodium falciparum'' and ''Plasmodium vivax'' which are responsible for most malarial infection. It is a so-called "benign malaria" and is not nearly as dangerous as that produced by ''P. falciparum'' or ''P. vivax''. ''P. malariae'' causes fevers that recur at approximately three-day intervals (a ''quartan fever''), longer than the two-day intervals of the other malarial parasites.
Microscopically, the parasitised red blood cell (erythrocyte) is never enlarged and may even appear smaller than that of normal red blood cells. The cytoplasm is not decolorized and no dots are visible on the cell surface. The food vacuole is small and the parasite is compact. Cells seldom host more than one parasite. Band forms, where the parasite forms a thick band across the width of the infected cell, are characteristic of this species (and some would say is diagnostic). Large grains of malarial pigment are often seen in these parasites: more so than any other ''Plasmodium'' species. 8 merozoites
''P. vivax'' and ''P. ovale'' that has been sitting in EDTA for more than half-an-hour before the blood film is made will look very similar in appearance to ''P. malariae'', which is an important reason to warn the laboratory immediately when the blood sample is drawn so they can process the sample as soon as it arrives.