Uncommon manifestation of a mixed-species malaria infection: cryptic falciparum malaria in a traveler with successfully treated tertian malaria.

We report a case of falciparum malaria in a traveler 9 days after successful treatment of ovale malaria. The underlying, cryptic mixed-species infection was primarily undetectable with standard laboratory diagnostics. This case highlights the limitations of these tests and the unpredictability of typical incubation periods in the individual case.