Malaria
MALARIA
INTRODUCTION:
Malaria is one of the most devastating and infectious disease in many areas of the world and more or so in many developing countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America and Central America. This disease has been noted for more than 4000 years (Center for disease control, Para 3). In addition, Malaria causes death in children after prenatal conditions, lower respiratory infections, and diarrhea diseases. The number of children dying from the disease is higher than in adults. The number of people infected with malaria worldwide could be almost twice as high as previously predicted, according to an international study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO). They further estimated that, in 2002, 2.2 billion people were exposed to infection by the Parasite Plasmodium and more than 1 million deaths are recorded annually (World Health Organization, Para 5).
Malaria is caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Charles Louis Alponse Lavern, who was a French army surgeon stationed in Algeria, Africa, was the first to notice the parasites in the blood of a patient suffering from malaria.
The four species that infect humans are Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium ovale (Medical Microbiology, pg 935-39). The infection is acquired through mosquito bites by the members of the genus Anopheles.
Modes of Transmission.
The life cycle of the Malarial Parasite goes through three stages as seen in the next page.
Diagram of Plasmodium parasite life cycle. Image taken from the Malaria Foundation link.
The sporozoan parasite replicate in the presence of the mosquito and a human host. In Stage 1, the female Anapholes mosquito secretes anticoagulant and releases parasitic sporozoites found in its salivary gland into the human host when it bites into it. The sporozoites penetrate and multiply into the liver cells. These proceeds to stage 2 which takes place after 9 – 16 days.
INTRODUCTION:
Malaria is one of the most devastating and infectious disease in many areas of the world and more or so in many developing countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America and Central America. This disease has been noted for more than 4000 years (Center for disease control, Para 3). In addition, Malaria causes death in children after prenatal conditions, lower respiratory infections, and diarrhea diseases. The number of children dying from the disease is higher than in adults. The number of people infected with malaria worldwide could be almost twice as high as previously predicted, according to an international study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO). They further estimated that, in 2002, 2.2 billion people were exposed to infection by the Parasite Plasmodium and more than 1 million deaths are recorded annually (World Health Organization, Para 5).
Malaria is caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Charles Louis Alponse Lavern, who was a French army surgeon stationed in Algeria, Africa, was the first to notice the parasites in the blood of a patient suffering from malaria.
The four species that infect humans are Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium ovale (Medical Microbiology, pg 935-39). The infection is acquired through mosquito bites by the members of the genus Anopheles.
Modes of Transmission.
The life cycle of the Malarial Parasite goes through three stages as seen in the next page.
Diagram of Plasmodium parasite life cycle. Image taken from the Malaria Foundation link.
The sporozoan parasite replicate in the presence of the mosquito and a human host. In Stage 1, the female Anapholes mosquito secretes anticoagulant and releases parasitic sporozoites found in its salivary gland into the human host when it bites into it. The sporozoites penetrate and multiply into the liver cells. These proceeds to stage 2 which takes place after 9 – 16 days.
Bibliography: Bradley, Titus. “Malaria and Drug Resistance”. 1996. Black, Jacquelyn G The History of Malaria, an Ancient Disease. Center for Disease Control. 24 June, 2006 Turner, Jerrold A., et al New York, NY: Wiley- Liss, Inc., 605 Third Avenue, 1994. Pg 935-939.