Malaria Flashcards
(b) Describe how malaria is transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected person.
female mosquito/Anopheles mosquito vector
bites/takes blood from infected person blood contains protist
protist reproduces in mosquito
transmitted when mosquito bites transmitted in (mosquito) saliva
Outline two distinctly different methods of controlling the spread of malaria.
use of insecticides
to kill mosquitoes or
eliminate standing water/oil on water
remove/disrupt mosquito breeding
symptoms of malaria
fever, headache, chills (shaking), sweating and vomiting. if left untreeated and a host is susceptible, complicatiojn can develope, such as anaemia (because red blood cells burst) and liver failure. the complications can cause death.
incubations period of malaria
10-15 days
describe how malaria is transmitted from an uninfected person to an infected person.
- May be transmitted from blood transfusions of contaminated blood/ contaminated needles
- When mosquito inserts proboscis into capillary t o with draw blood from infected person, plasmodium gametocytes are withdrawn with blood
- When that mosquito feeds on uninfected, pathogen as larvae are injected with the mosquitos saliva into blood of host.
how is Malaria spread (basic)
Mosquito injects sporozoites into blood stream, infects RBCs.
what types of disease is malaria (basic)
Protist disease
symptoms of malaria (basic)
At least 4 symptoms - headaches, chills, fever, nausea etc.
medical treatment of malaria (basic)
antimalarial medicines (kinda shit tho)
transmission of malaria (basic)
Indirect - requires a mosquito vector
malaria disease name
Plasmodium Falciparum
malaria mode of transmission
Indirect
Requires a vector
Female Anopheles mosquito blood feeds
Less common forms of transmission:
Blood transfusions, sharing needles, congenital infection
malaria life cycle
Entry via skin: blood feed by mosquito vector
Replication: sexual reproduction between male and female gametes in the mosquito (definitive host) gut; asexual reproduction of sporozoites in liver cells; asexual reproduction of merozoites in red blood cells (the human is the intermediate host)
Exit via skin: blood feed by mosquito vector.
Method of Invasion
Mosquito injects sporozoites of parasite into host bloodstream as she feeds
Invade liver
Divide repeatedly to make merozoites
Leave liver, enter blood, infect RBCs, divide again
RBCs rupture + release merozoites + metabolic waste
Toxins induce symptoms (may subside but reappear when new RBC bursts)
Method of Invasion
Life cycle complete when merozoites form gametocytes
Ingested by mosquito
Fuse to form zygotes which burrow through wall of stomach + form cysts
Sporozoites form in cysts + migrate to salivary glands
malaria evolutionary adaptations
Resistant strains emerging
Parasite can switch on / off expression of some proteins to enter RBCs
Can invade immune system
Uses a vector to penetrate external defenses
factors affecting spread
Genetic factors (eg. Sickle cell)
Poor rural populations
Travellers + human activities
Domestic animals + agriculture work
Found more where vectors thrive (ie. Tropical climates)
Management Strategies - Treatment
Urgent hospital assessment + management
Antimalarial medicines
Rapidly eliminates parasites
Types depend on which Plasmodium has infected you
Management Strategies - Prevention
Take precaution against mosquito bites
Avoid dusk/down outdoor activities, loose long clothing, mosquito repellants, no perfumes, sleep under mosquito nets
Take antimalarial medication
Do not prevent infection, but suppress symptoms by killing parasite as soon as at liver / blood
Effective vaccines not yet developed
