Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium Falciparum is a protozoan parasite carried by female anopheles mosquitoes. Plasmodium F. is responsible for 85% of malaria deaths around the world. The female anopheles mosquito transmits Plasmodium Falciparum in human by introducing sporozoites into the blood stream. Anopheles mosquitos that don’t carry Plasmodium F. can pick up the gametocytes by feeding on the blood of already infected individuals. These become malaria mosquitos.

The female anopheles mosquito transmits Plasmodium Falciparum in human by introducing sporozoites into the blood stream. These parasitic particles make thier way to to the liver where they multiply rapidly and infect hepatocytes. Sporozoites divide to produce up to 30 000 daughter merozoites. The infected hepatocytes eventually burst and release merozoites which will go on to infect erythrocytes. Little by little, Plasmodium F. takes over the erythrocytes by modifying the cell membrane and its associated proteins as well as presenting camouflaged antigens on the cells surface.
The incubation period of malaria can last up to two weeks. Symptoms start to show in the host when the parasite reaches 100 million particles.