Three Stages of Malaria

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QUESTION

What are the three stages of malaria?

ANSWER

The three parts of the malaria life cycle are known as the exo-erythrocytic cycle, the erythrocytic cycle and the sporogonic cycle. The first two of these take place in the human (or other mammal) host, while the third occurs in the mosquito vector. The below diagram, courtesy of the CDC, shows the complete life cycle of malaria in more detail.

malaria life cycle CDC

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