The patient's blood films come back positive for malaria, however the microscopist is new and unfamiliar with malarial speciation and cannot give a definite result for the species.
Given his history of working in Sub-Saharan Africa and his delayed presentation, what is the most likely responsible Plasmodium species?
Well done, correct.
Both P. ovale and P. vivax are capable of causing relayed infections due to the sporozoites' ability to lie dormant in the liver as hypnozoites.
In this case, understanding of the geographic distribution of species is important.
P. vivax is not found in Africa, whereas P. ovale is.