Malaria: Causative Parasites and Transmission
Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Human-Infecting Species
- Plasmodium falciparum: Most severe, highest mortality; causes cerebral malaria; no dormant liver stage.
- P. vivax: Relapsing (hypnozoites in liver); wide geographic distribution.
- P. ovale: Relapsing; similar to P. vivax; West Africa, Pacific.
- P. malariae: Chronic, low-grade; can persist decades; quartan fever (72-hr cycle).
- P. knowlesi: Zoonotic (macaques); Southeast Asia; can cause severe disease.
Life Cycle Highlights
- Sporozoites injected by mosquito → liver (hepatocytes) → exoerythrocytic schizogony.
- Merozoites released → invade RBCs → asexual cycles (fever paroxysms).
- Gametocytes ingested by mosquito → sexual reproduction → sporozoites migrate to salivary glands.
Diagnosis & Treatment
- Gold standard: Giemsa-stained thick/thin blood smears (species ID, parasitemia).
- RDTs (HRP2/pLDH) for rapid screening.
- Treatment species- and severity-dependent: ACTs (artemisinin-based combination therapy) for P. falciparum; chloroquine for sensitive P. vivax/ovale/malariae + primaquine for radical cure (hypnozoites).
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