Malaria

Question 1

What are the causative organisms for Malaria?

Answer 1

Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi

(These are prions)

Question 2

What are the most common modes of transmission for Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P.ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi)?

Answer 2

Biological vector (mosquito), vertical

Question 3

What are the virulence factors for Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi)?

Answer 3

Multiple life stages; multiple antigenic types, ability to scavenge glucose, GPI toxin, cytoadherence

Question 4

How do you culture/diagnose Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi)?

Answer 4

Blood smear; serological methods

Question 5

How do you prevent Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi)?

Answer 5

Mosquito control. use of bed nets; for children in endemic areas now beginning use of RTS, S vaccine; prophylactic antiprotozoal agents

Question 6

How do you treat Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi)?

Answer 6

Artemisinin, combination therapy; consult WHO

Question 7

What are the epidemiological features of Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi)?

Answer 7

United States: cases are generally in travelers or immigrants; internationally, 200 million cases in “malaria belt”; half million deaths per year; more deadly in children