Malaria parasite

Malaria parasiteDetail About Malaria parasite By Harsh mohan

IntroductionMalaria is the mosquito born infectious disease of human. Malaria is caused by a parasite that is passed from one human to another by the bite of infectedAnophelesmosquitoes. After infection, the parasites (called sporozoites) travel through the bloodstream to the liver, where they mature and release another form, the merozoites. which introduces the protists via its saliva into thecirculatory system, and ultimately to the liver where they mature and reproduce. The disease causes symptoms that typically includefeverandheadache, which in severe cases can progress tocomaordeath.

Symptoms of malaria

Fever SweatingChills

Malaria parasite The Parasite which cause malaria in man and other animals belong to -Class:- SporozoaSuborder:- Hemosporidia Genus:- Plasmodium

Most common species found in man are :- Plasmodium VivaxPlasmodium FalciparumPlasmodium MalariaePlasmodium ovale

Morphology of Malaria parasite

Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium vivax Plasmodium vivax is a protozoal parasite and a human pathogen. The most frequent and widely distributed cause of recurring (Benign tertian)malaria, P. vivax is one of the six species of malarial parasite that commonly infect humans. It is less virulent than Plasmodium falciparum, which is the deadliest of the six, and is seldom fatal. P. vivax is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito, since it is only the female of the species that bites

Plasmodium falciparumPlasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite, one of the species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans. It is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria caused by this species is the most dangerous form of malaria, with the highest rates of complications and mortality

Plasmodium malariaePlasmodium malariae is a parasitic protozoa that causes malaria in humans. It is closely related to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax which are responsible for most malarial infection. While found worldwide, it is a so-called "benign malaria" and is not nearly as dangerous as that produced by P. falciparum or P. vivax. P. malariae causes fevers that recur at approximately three-day intervals (a quartan fever), longer than the two-day (tertian) intervals of the other malarial parasites, hence its alternate names quartan fever and quartan malaria.

Plasmodium ovalePlasmodium ovale is a species of parasitic protozoa that causes tertian malaria in humans. It is closely related to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, which are responsible for most malaria. It is rare compared to these two parasites, and substantially less dangerous than P. falciparum.

SchizontCCMOVBD

CCMOVBDGametocyteTrophozoites

Schzonts

GametocyteThe developmental stages seen in blood films

Life cycle of Malaria parasite

Characteristic of life cycleIntermediate host : humanFinal host : mosquitoInfective stage : sporozoiteInfective way : mosquito bite skin of humanParasitic position : liver and red blood cellsTransmitted stage : gametocytes Schizogonic cycle in red cells : 48 hrs/P.vSporozoite : tachysporozite and bradysporozite

Diagnosis of Malaria parasiteRapid investigation of Malaria parasite

Result of Rapid Malaria test

Microscopic investigation of Malaria parasite Blood Film ExaminationThick and thin blood films (or smears) have remained the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria. The films are stained and examined by microscopy.

Thick blood film - Used for detecting malaria: a larger volume of blood is examined allowing detection of even low levels of parasitaemia. Also used for determining parasite density and monitoring the response to treatment.

Thin blood film Gives more information about the parasite morphology and, therefore, is used to identify the particular infecting species of Plasmodium

Blood Films

Thick blood Film

Thin Blood Film

Plasmodium falciparum (trophozoite stage in thin smear)

Plasmodium falciparum (trophozoite stage in thick smear)

Appearance of blood film in Microscope

Appearance in blood film in Microscope

Ring forms or trophozoites; many

red cells infected some with more than one parasite