Question

Explain the life cycle of Plasmodium with a diagram.

Answer 1

Hint: Plasmodium is a parasite and is the causative organism of malaria. It requires two hosts to complete its life cycle- female Anopheles mosquito and human beings. When the female anopheles mosquito bites a healthy, human being, the person suffers from malaria that can become severe with time.

Complete answer:
1.Plasmodium targets the human body as a form of Sporozoites through the bite of female Anopheles mosquito.
2.Sporozoites can infect the human’s liver cells that can rupture it and release merozoites as well.
3.The parasites increase its number within the liver cells and further harm the red blood cells of the body.
4.If the female Anopheles mosquito bites the infected person, then it again enters into the mosquito’s body and ultimately moves into further development.
5.When these mosquitoes bite a human, the sporozoites are further spread into the body, thereby repeating the cycle and can increase the disease at the community level.

Note: Different species of Plasmodium (P. vivax, P. malaria, and P. falciparum) are responsible for different types of malaria. Malignant malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum and is the most serious one and can even be fatal. You can divide the life cycle of Plasmodium into two phases: The first one is the asexual cycle in humans and the second one is the sexual cycle in mosquitoes.