Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax being the most significant in humans. Other species that can infect humans include P. malariae and P. ovale, among others. Transmission occurs when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a person and injects sporozoites, which then travel to the liver, multiply, and later invade red blood cells, causing disease. Key points:
- Causative pathogens: Plasmodium species (mainly falciparum, vivax; also malariae, ovale).
- Transmission: Bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
- Lifecycle brief: Liver stage (exoerythrocytic) followed by red blood cell stage (erythrocytic); some species form dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) that can cause relapses, especially P. vivax and potentially P. ovale.
- Clinical impact: Ranges from uncomplicated flu-like illness to severe, life-threatening forms such as cerebral malaria, particularly with P. falciparum.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific context (e.g., clinical features by species, diagnostic approaches, or treatment considerations).
