An infection with Plasmodium falciparum was diagnosed in this patient, with a parasitic load of approximately 30%. Remarkably, many neutrophils show phagocytosis of the parasite, as well as the presence of black inclusions; hemozoin. This arises from the defense mechanism of the malaria parasite that crystallizes the toxic heme released during erythrocyte breakdown; this crystal is also known as "malaria pigment".