Question

Which of the following diseases is caused by Plasmodium vivax.?
A. Quartan malaria
B. Malignant tertian malaria
C. Benign tertian malaria
D. Yellow fever

Answer 1

Hint: Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by species of Plasmodium, a protozoan parasite. Different species cause less harmful malaria to more dangerous one. Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale causes benign (less harmful) malaria whereas malignant malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum.

Complete explanation:
Option A Quartan malaria: Plasmodium malariae is one of the several species of plasmodium parasite, a protozoan that causes quartan malaria in humans. This is the only species capable of infecting other primates. It is most common in tropical Africa, Burma, Sri Lanka but less common in parts of India. Its incubation period is about $$28$$ days and recurrence of fever after every $$72$$ hours.
Option A is not correct.
Option B Malignant tertian malaria: It is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. It is common in certain parts of India. It is the greatest killer of human beings over most parts of the tropics and Africa. Its incubation period is about $$12$$ days and recurrence of fever after every $$48$$ hours.
Option B is not correct.
Option C Benign tertian malaria: It is most common in India and less common in Africa. This is caused by Plasmodium vivax. Its incubation period is about $$14$$ days and recurrence of fever after every $$48$$ hours.
Option C is correct.
Option D Yellow fever: It is a viral infection spread by a particular species of mosquito. It commonly spread to the areas of Africa and South America.
Option D is not correct.

Therefore, Option C) is the correct answer.

Note:
Malaria is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito carrying the Plasmodium parasite and when it bites, the parasite is released into the bloodstream of the human being. So human beings and female Anopheles’ mosquitoes both act as two different hosts for Plasmodium to complete its life cycle.