sentences:  An important difference from malaria is that "B. microti" does not infect liver cells.Additionally, the piroplasm is spread by tick bites ("Ixodes scapularis", the same tick that spreads Lyme disease), while the malaria protozoans are spread via mosquito.Finally, under the microscope, the merozoite form of the "B. microti" lifecycle in red blood cells forms a cross-shaped structure, often referred to as a "Maltese cross" or tetrad, in addition to intracellular "ring forms" which are also seen in the malaria parasite ("Plasmodium" spp.