A 44 year old man was admitted to the hospital following a 2 week history of low grade fever, malaise, and anorexia. Examination of a Giemsa stained blood film revealed many intraerythrocytic parasites. Further history revealed frequent camping trips near Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island, but no travel outside the continental United States. This parasite could easily be confused with:_________.
a. Babesia microti
b. Leishmania donovani
c. Plasmodium ovale
d. Toxoplasma gondii
e. none of these