Question

The causative agent of malaria is:

• A. Trypanosoma cruzi
• B. Plasmodium species
• C. Leishmania donovani
• D. Toxoplasma gondii

Hint:

Plasmodium falciparum is the most severe; P. vivax is most widespread.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The causative agent of malaria is the Plasmodium species. Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals and is caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. There are several species of Plasmodium that can infect humans, but the most common and dangerous are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae. The life cycle of Plasmodium includes multiple stages: a mosquito vector, where the parasite reproduces sexually, and a human host, where it reproduces asexually.

Species	Infection Characteristic
Plasmodium falciparum	Causes the most severe form of malaria
Plasmodium vivax	Can remain dormant in the liver
Plasmodium ovale	Less common, similar to vivax
Plasmodium malariae	Can cause chronic infection

The mosquito vector involved is primarily the Anopheles species. When an infected mosquito bites a human, the Plasmodium sporozoites enter the bloodstream and travel to the liver, where they mature and reproduce. Preventive measures include mosquito control, use of bed nets, and antimalarial drugs.