Question

The symptoms of malaria do not appear immediately after the entry of sporozoites into the human body when bitten by female Anopheles mosquito. Explain why it happens.

Hint:

Pre-formed antibodies (antitoxins) provide immediate protection against specific toxins or venoms, as they neutralize harmful substances before the body has a chance to produce its own immune response.

Answer 1

Why symptoms of malaria do not appear immediately after the entry of sporozoites into the human body:
- The delay in the appearance of malaria symptoms is due to the time it takes for the sporozoites to mature into merozoites.
- When a female Anopheles mosquito bites a person, it injects sporozoites into the bloodstream. These sporozoites travel to the liver, where they mature into schizonts.
- The schizonts then release merozoites into the bloodstream, which invade red blood cells.
- The symptoms of malaria, such as fever and chills, occur when the merozoites rupture red blood cells, causing the release of toxins into the bloodstream. This process can take days to weeks, which is why the symptoms of malaria do not appear immediately after the mosquito bite.