plasmodium: 4 species life cycle pathogenesis clinical features lab diagnosis treatment

2.  There are 4 species of genus plasmodium : P.vivax
, P.falciparum, P.malariae and P.ovale
 They are protozoa, causing malaria in man
 In india , P. vivax and P.falciparum are very
common but P.ovale does not occur.
 HOST :
1. Intermediate host – man
2. Definitive host – female anopheles
Asexual development of parasite occurs in man
and sexual development in mosquito.

3.  SPOROZOITES in infective form are present
in salivary glands of female anophles
 Man get infected by bite and sporozoites
introduced dirctly into blood circulation
 Stages: 1. pre-erythrocytic schizogony
2. erythrocytic schizogony
3. gametogony
4. exo-erythrocytic schizogony

6.  Infection with plasmodium causes intermittent
fever which is named as malaria
 Incubation period :
10-14 days in P.vivax , P.falciparum , P.ovale
28-30 days in P.malariae
 Clinical features:
febrile paroxysm
anaemia
splenomegaly

7.  It is life threatening complication that sometimes occurs in acute
falciparum malaria.
 It is due to heavy parasitization.
 Pernicious malaria is grouped into :
1. Cerebral malaria : characterised by hyperpyrexia, coma &
paralysis.
2. Algid malaria : characterised by cold chammy skin leading to
peripheral circulating malaria.
It is manifestation of infection with P.falciparum occuring in those
person who have been previously infected and have had inadequate
dose of quinine
It is complication of malaria infection in which red blood cell burst in
the bloodstream (haemolysis) , releasing hemoglobin directly into the
blood vessels and into the urine , frequently leading to kidney failure.

8.  MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION : of peripheral blood smear is
the most important diagnostic procedure in malaria.
 Take blood during pyrexia
 Not after even single dose of anti-malarial drug

9. Malarial parasites may be
quickly detected in the
thick smear but
species identification is
difficult.
Thin smear is
examined for identifying the
species of plasmodium

10.  SEROLOGICAL TEST : indirect immuno-
fluorescence test , indirect haemagglutination
assay (IHA) , and enzyme linked
immunosorbent assay(ELISA) are the
serological tests used for the diagnosis of
malaria
 DNA probes : these are sensitive and specific
diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of malaria
Chloroquine is used for treatment of acute
malaria .However, resistance to this drug in
P.falciparum is reported Widely . Mefloquine is
active against chloroquine resistant strains.