Final answer:
Plasmodium falciparum, the cause of malaria, is often mistaken for Howell-Jolly bodies on blood smears.
Step-by-step explanation:
The parasite commonly mistaken for Howell-Jolly bodies is Plasmodium falciparum, the protozoan cause of malaria. Howell-Jolly bodies are remnants of DNA in red blood cells, typically seen following splenectomy or in certain hemolytic anemias.
In a blood smear, the ring-form trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum can be confused with Howell-Jolly bodies due to their similar appearance under a microscope.
Malaria is a significant disease in many parts of the world, characterized by its life cycle involving human liver and red blood cells, and asexual reproduction in the gut of blood-feeding mosquitoes.