Plasmodium malariae--a report of three cases.

Kasaragod District of Kerala state has never reported cases of Plasmodium malariae. During September 1999-March 2000 a total of 52 slides were reported as positive for P. vivax, P. falciparum and mixed infection. The expert team cross-checked these positive slides and three were found positive for P. malariae which were reported as P. vivax. All these had similar clinical features and were either imported cases from endemic areas or local population who visited endemic areas or by persons who came in as construction workers.