Classification of Malaria Parasite

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QUESTION

What is the classification of malaria?

ANSWER

Malaria is caused by a single celled protist of the genus Plasmodium. This genus is part of a Phylum of single-celled protist organisms called Apicomplexa.

The Apicomplexans mostly posses an organ called an apicoplast, which is part of an apical structure designed to aid entry into a host cell. The Apicomplexa is split into two Classes, of which Plasmodium belongs to the Aconoidasida (lacking a structure called a conoid, which is like a set of microtubules), and then to the Order Haemosporidia, which contains parasites which invade red blood cells. Within this Order, Plasmodium belongs to the Family Plasmodiidae, which all share numerous characteristics, including asexual reproduction in a vertebrate host and sexual reproduction in a definitive host (a mosquito, in the case of the Plasmodium species that infect all mammals, including humans).

In the case of human malarias, the definitive host is often referred to as the vector. The family contains about twelve genera, of which one is Plasmodium, which itself is now often divided up into numerous sub-genera, and then again into hundreds of different species, of which five infect humans (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi).

Malaria Hosts

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QUESTION

Which are malaria hosts and how does malaria have an effect on one of them?

ANSWER

The parasite which causes malaria (called Plasmodium) requires two different hosts—a vertebrate intermediate host, such as a human, and an insect definitive host, also known as the vector. For the types of malaria which infect humans and other mammals, the vector is always a mosquito of the genus Anopheles.

However, there are other types of malaria which infect birds and reptiles, and these can use other genera of mosquito as their vectors, and some parasites closely related to Plasmodium can even use sandflies and other types of insects as their vectors too.

In humans, malaria usually causes disease, characterized by high fever, chills, aches and nausea. However, the presentation of symptoms and their severity depends on a number of factors, such as the type of Plasmodium (P. falciparum is the most dangerous to humans), the immune status of the host and the infective dose received from the vector.

Many mammals are also susceptible to malaria, such as macaque monkeys, and with them as well the effect of the parasite depends on a number of factors. For example, for macaques in south-east Asia, many will be co-infected with several different types of malaria simultaneously, though none appear to cause disease. However, if macaques from other parts of tje world, such as the Himalayas, are experimentally infected with these same types of malaria, they will get sick and possibly even die. As such, evolutionary history also plays a part in terms of how severe malaria will be in a particular host.

For the insect vector, infection with malaria parasites does not appear to have a strong deleterious effect, though some studies have shown reduced survival in mosquitoes infected with malaria. Also, changes in behavior have been observed. For example, some studies have shown that mosquitoes which are infected with malaria are more likely to continue seeking for food (i.e. through biting a host) even if they have recently fed than mosquitoes which are uninfected, or infected with non-transmissable life stages of malaria. This suggests that in some way the malaria parasite is manipulating the vector’s behavior in order to increase its own chances of being passed on to a new host.

Causes of Malaria

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QUESTION

What are the causes of malaria?

ANSWER

Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. 

Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous blood meal taken on an infected person. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken in which contains microscopic malaria parasites. About 1 week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, these parasites mix with the mosquito’s saliva and are injected into the person being bitten.

Because the malaria parasite is found in red blood cells of an infected person, malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes contaminated with blood. Malaria may also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn infant before or during delivery (“congenital” malaria).

Classification of Malaria

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QUESTION

Classification of malaria

ANSWER

Malaria is caused by a single celled protist of the genus Plasmodium. This genus is part of a Phylum of single-celled protist organisms called Apicomplexa.

The Apicomplexans mostly posses an organ called an apicoplast, which is part of an apical structure designed to aid entry into a host cell. The Apicomplexa is split into two Classes, of which Plasmodium belongs to the Aconoidasida (lacking a structure called a conoid, which is like a set of microtubules), and then to the Order Haemosporidia, which contains parasites which invade red blood cells. Within this Order, Plasmodium belongs to the Family Plasmodiidae, which all share numerous characteristics, including asexual reproduction in a vertebrate host and sexual reproduction in a definitive host (a mosquito, in the case of the Plasmodium species that infect all mammals, including humans).

In the case of human malarias, the definitive host is often referred to as the vector. The family contains about twelve genera, of which one is Plasmodium, which itself is now often divided up into numerous sub-genera, and then again into hundreds of different species, of which five infect humans (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi).

Malaria Transmission

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QUESTION

How is malaria transmitted?

ANSWER

Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. 

Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous blood meal taken on an infected person. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken in which contains microscopic malaria parasites. About 1 week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, these parasites mix with the mosquito’s saliva and are injected into the person being bitten.

Because the malaria parasite is found in red blood cells of an infected person, malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes contaminated with blood. Malaria may also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn infant before or during delivery (“congenital” malaria).

Malaria Origins

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QUESTION

What is the origin of malaria?

ANSWER

Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium. There are five difference species of Plasmodium which infect humans – these all likely evolved from various different species of Plasmodium which infect other primates, such as gorillas (for P. falciparum) and macaques (P. vivax, P. knowlesi, possibly other types as well). This happened many thousands of years ago; humans have been plagued by malaria since before records began. In fact, the first recorded mention of the symptoms of malaria come from ancient China, in a manuscript dated to 2700 years before the common era, or almost 5000 years ago.

However, understanding that malaria was caused by a microscopic parasite, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, occurred much more recently; the Plasmodium parasite was first observed in the blood of a person who died from malaria in 1880 by the French physician Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran. A few years later, in 1897/1898, a British physician, Ronald Ross, demonstrated that the parasite could be transmitted between hosts via the bite of an infected mosquito. Both physicians eventually won Nobel Prizes for their work.

Duration of Malaria Fever for Child

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QUESTION

Can fever duration in malaria is 5-6 Hours for back?

And if I m giving 5 ML of Lariago to my 5 Yr Child how many days it will take to reduce the fever or increase the gap of fever coming back in 5-6 hours.

ANSWER

Please give more information regarding the first part of your question – I am not sure what you are asking regarding malaria fever duration? Regarding Lariago, its active ingredient is chloroquine phosphate, which is NOT effective against malaria in many places, due to widespread resistance. This is particularly true of Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly kind of malaria. A blood smear can determine the species identification of malaria. As such it is important to know whether malaria in your area is known to have resistance to chloroquine prior to using chloroquine derivatives such as Lariago. Regardless, the World Health Organization now recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as first line treatment for all non-complicated malaria. If a patient is suffering from complicated/severe malaria, or is unable to ingest malaria medication, they will require hospitalization, and likely be treated with intravenous quinine or artemisinin-derivative suppository, depending on their age and condition.

Hereditary Malaria

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QUESTION

Can malaria be passed on through heredity?

ANSWER

In the vast majority of cases, malaria is only transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito.

However, if a pregnant woman becomes infected with malaria, she can pass the parasite to her unborn child via the placenta, or via blood transfer during childbirth. An infection in a newborn child, caused by infection in the mother during pregnancy, is known as “congenital malaria”. Otherwise, a child cannot “inherit” malaria from their parents, apart from the above case of congenital malaria.

What is Malaria?

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QUESTION

what is malaria?

ANSWER

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite, of the genus Plasmodium, that infects a certain type of mosquito (of the genus Anopheles) which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Four kinds of malaria parasites can infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. knowlesi and P. malariae. Infection with P. falciparum, if not promptly treated, may lead to death. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented.

Malaria Life Cycle Illustration

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QUESTION
What is the life cycle of malaria?

ANSWER

The life cycle of malaria is complex, involving a definitive host, or vector, which for human malaria is a mosquito of the genus Anopheles, and also a human host. Inside both, the malaria parasite undergoes several different transformations and reproductive cycles, which are detailed in the schematic below.

You may also view a video of malaria life cycle.

Malaria life cycle

Schematic of malaria life cycle, courtesy of CDC (www.cdc.gov)