Medical Virology and Parasitology: Malaria Plasmodium Diseases

What are the four plasmodia that cause malaria?

Plasmodium Falciparum, vivax, ovale, malariae

What type of mosquito is the vector and definitive host for malaria?

Female Anopheles mosquito

What are the two phases in the life cycle of Plasmodium?

Sexual cycle (in mosquitoes) & asexual cycle (in humans)

Why is malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum more severe?

Infection of more red blood cells, capillary occlusion, and cerebral malaria Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the cycle where schizonts are produced?

Schizogony Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the cycle where sporozoites are produced?

Sporogony Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the dark color of the patient's urine in malaria cases?

Black water fever Signup and view all the answers

How often does malaria caused by P.malariae recur?

Every fourth day Signup and view all the answers

What is the timing of the fever cycle for P.falciparum?

72 hours Signup and view all the answers

What is the timing of the fever cycle for plasmodia other than P.malariae?

48 hours Signup and view all the answers

How is malaria primarily transmitted?

Mosquito bites Signup and view all the answers

What are the two subtypes of tertian malaria and their respective causative agents?

Malignant malaria (P.falciparum) and benign malaria (P.vivax & P.ovale) Signup and view all the answers

What are the common symptoms of malaria?

Fever, headache, myalgias, arthralgias, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and anemia. Signup and view all the answers

How is malaria diagnosed in the laboratory?

Microscopic examination of blood using thick and thin Giemsa-stained smears. Signup and view all the answers

What is the treatment for acute malaria?

Chloroquine. Signup and view all the answers

What drugs are used for chloroquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum?

Mefloquine, quinine & doxycycline combination, atovaquone & proguanil, or artemisinins in combination with other antimalarial drugs. Signup and view all the answers

What causes relapses in P. vivax and P. ovale malaria?

Hypnozoites latent in the liver. Signup and view all the answers

What is used for prevention of malaria in travelers to areas with chloroquine-resistant strains?

Chemoprophylaxis. Signup and view all the answers