<prompt> Maltese cross appearance in peripheral blood smear is seen in which of the following infections?Plasmodium falciparumBabesia microtiLeishmania chagasiTrypanosoma cruzi  <response>: In blood smears, Babesia spp. superficially resemble P. falciparum ring stages, but lack hemozoin pigment, exhibit greater pleomorphism, and form characteristic tetrads Maltese cross, which are diagnostic, if found. 