Plasmodium

Question 1

What are the main Plasmodium species of Birds: (3)

Answer 1

• Plasmodium praecox
• Plasmodium gallinaceum
• Plasmodium juxtanucleare

Vector: Anopheles spp. (mosquito), Culex spp.
Cause: Fever, Splenonegaly, Anemia

Question 2

What are the main Plasmodium species of Humans: (4)

Answer 2

• Plasmodium faciparum = D: Malaria tertiana
• Plasmodium malariae = D: Malaria quartana
• Plasmodium vivax = D: Malaria tertiana
• Plasmodium ovale = D: Malaria tertiana

Vector: Anopheles spp. (Mosquito)

Question 3

What are the main Plasmodium species of Primates: (6)

Answer 3

• Plasmodium reichenowi
• Plasmodium schwetzi
• Plasmodium rodhaini
• Plasmodium cynomolgi
• Plasmodium basilianum
• Plasmodium knowlesi

Question 4

Describe the Life cycle of Plasmodium:

Answer 4

Final host (vector)
1. Vector (Mosquito) bites an infected host and ingests Gametocytes
2. Micro and Macrogametocytes form a Zygote that becomes a Ookinete and eventually into Oocyst
3. Rupture of Oocyst releases Sporozoites that are injected when the vector feeds

Intermediate host
1. Sporozoites enter liver cells (hepatocytes) and start to multiply asexually by Binary fission
2. Form Merozoites and eventually Schizont
3. Schizont rupture and release Merozites into the blood stream
4. Merozoites infect the RBC and multiply again to form more (Early trophozoite(ring form)>Late trophozoite>Blood-stage schizont) until the RBC ruptures and release Merozoites into the bloodstream again or form Gamerocyte (Micro and Macrogametocyte)

ATH!!! Merozoites can be preserved intracellularly in heparocytes for years as Dormoxoites