As with HRP2 in falciparum malaria [30], pLDH is produced to a greater extent by P. vivax schizonts and trophozoites than by ring-form parasites [31], and given the under-representation of mature P. vivax stages in peripheral blood [26], [27], pLDH may be a better marker of total parasite biomass and a better prognostic indicator than peripheral parasitemia. Here, HDGFL2 is linked to Plasmodium falciparum malaria.