The Biology and Life Cycle of the Malaria Parasite, Plasmodium
COVENANT UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
NAME: OBUEKWE CHUKWUEMEKA AZUBUIKE
MAT NO: 12CQ014230
PROGRAMME: MICROBIOLOGY
COURSE TITLE:CLINICAL PARASITOLOGY
CODE: BLY 225
TOPIC: DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOLOGY AND LIFE CYCLE OF
PLASMODIUM
INTRODUCTION
Plasmodium, a genus of parasitic protozoans of the sporozoan subclass Coccidia that are the causative organisms of malaria. Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells in mammals
(including humans), birds, and reptiles, occurs worldwide, especially in tropical and temperate zones. The organism is transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. Other insects and some mites may also transmit forms of malaria to animals.
Five species of Plasmodium are known to cause human malaria: P. vivax (producing the most widespread form), P. ovale (relatively uncommon), P. falciparum (producing the most severe symptoms), P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. There are several species that have been isolated from chimpanzees, including P. reichenowi and P. gaboni. P. falciparum, P. gaboni, and other species have been isolated from gorillas. Examples of parasites found in reptiles include P. mexicanum and P. floridense, and those in birds include P. relictum and P. juxtanucleare.
Plasmodium species exhibit three life-cycle stages—gametocytes, sporozoites, and merozoites.
Gametocytes within a mosquito develop into sporozoites. The sporozoites are transmitted via the saliva of a feeding mosquito to the human bloodstream. From there they enter liver parenchyma cells, where they divide and form merozoites. The merozoites are released into the bloodstream and infect red blood cells. Rapid division of the merozoites results in the destruction of the red blood cells, and the newly multiplied merozoites then infect new red blood cells. Some merozoites may develop into gametocytes, which can be ingested by a feeding mosquito, starting the life cycle over again. The red blood cells destroyed by
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
NAME: OBUEKWE CHUKWUEMEKA AZUBUIKE
MAT NO: 12CQ014230
PROGRAMME: MICROBIOLOGY
COURSE TITLE:CLINICAL PARASITOLOGY
CODE: BLY 225
TOPIC: DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOLOGY AND LIFE CYCLE OF
PLASMODIUM
INTRODUCTION
Plasmodium, a genus of parasitic protozoans of the sporozoan subclass Coccidia that are the causative organisms of malaria. Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells in mammals
(including humans), birds, and reptiles, occurs worldwide, especially in tropical and temperate zones. The organism is transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. Other insects and some mites may also transmit forms of malaria to animals.
Five species of Plasmodium are known to cause human malaria: P. vivax (producing the most widespread form), P. ovale (relatively uncommon), P. falciparum (producing the most severe symptoms), P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. There are several species that have been isolated from chimpanzees, including P. reichenowi and P. gaboni. P. falciparum, P. gaboni, and other species have been isolated from gorillas. Examples of parasites found in reptiles include P. mexicanum and P. floridense, and those in birds include P. relictum and P. juxtanucleare.
Plasmodium species exhibit three life-cycle stages—gametocytes, sporozoites, and merozoites.
Gametocytes within a mosquito develop into sporozoites. The sporozoites are transmitted via the saliva of a feeding mosquito to the human bloodstream. From there they enter liver parenchyma cells, where they divide and form merozoites. The merozoites are released into the bloodstream and infect red blood cells. Rapid division of the merozoites results in the destruction of the red blood cells, and the newly multiplied merozoites then infect new red blood cells. Some merozoites may develop into gametocytes, which can be ingested by a feeding mosquito, starting the life cycle over again. The red blood cells destroyed by