A 56-year-old man presents to the hospital with two weeks of fever, fatigue,
headache, and myalgia. The patient spent the last three months hiking in Africa, North America, and South America. Bloodwork reveals elevated hepatic transaminases as well as severe anemia. A thick and thin smear of peripheral blood is prepared with Giemsa stain. Examination of the smears under
light microscopy shows cross-shaped inclusions within several erythrocytes. Which of the following organisms is most likely responsible for this patient’s findings?
