Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: “Mosquitoes are drastically affecting the human health in almost all the developing tropical countries. Different species of mosquitoes cause very fatal diseases so much so that many humans lose their life and if they survive, are unable to put in productive hours to sustain their life. With the result, the health index of the country goes down.” 

Explain the events which occur within a female Anopheles mosquito after it has sucked blood from a malaria patient.
 

Hint:

The life cycle of Plasmodium involves complex stages within the mosquito’s gut, leading to the formation of infectious sporozoites.

Answer 1

The gametocytes of Plasmodium ingested with human blood develop into gametes in the mosquito’s gut. Fertilisation occurs, forming a zygote which develops into an ookinete and then into an oocyst. The oocyst releases sporozoites which migrate to the mosquito’s salivary glands, ready to infect another human.