Plasmodium spp

• Malaria – fever, febrile convulsions, respiratory symptoms (flu-like), GIT symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea)

• sporozoites to liver, asexual repro occurs (8-25 days growth)
• some establish a dormant hepatic stage
• hepatocytes rupture, liberating merozoites which enter RBC’s
• asexual repro in RBC, ruptures it (releases up to 24 merozoites, infect other RBCs)
• some merozoites become M+F gametocytes within RBC
• If mosquito ingests M+F gametocytes in blood meal, sexual repro of malaria initiated

• Infection via mosquito bite, blood transfusion, needle sharing with infected person
  
• There is a congenital acquisition (v. rare)

• In mosquito for sexual repro stage
  
• Humans or other animals for asexual repro stage

• Chloroquine (there is chloroquine-resistant strains)
  
• Primaquine to eliminate cycle in liver
  
• NB: drugs can be toxic

Main drugs used in prophylaxis (preventative Rx):

• Chloroquine
• Screening, netting, protective clothing, repellent screening

• 4 species of coccidian or sporozoan parasite
• usually acquired in endemic areas
  

Category: Microbiology Notes