Plasmodium

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Plasmodium

Plasmodium (/plæzˈmoʊdiəm/) is a genus of parasitic protozoa. In many species of Plasmodium, the parasites can cause malaria in their hosts. The name "Plasmodium" comes from the Greek words "plasma" meaning something formed or molded and "odein" meaning to cause pain or suffering.

Etymology

The term "Plasmodium" was first used in 1885 by the Italian scientists Ettore Marchiafava and Angelo Celli to describe a type of parasitic protozoa. The name is derived from the Greek words "plasma" (πλάσμα), meaning something formed or molded, and "odein" (ὀδείν), meaning to cause pain or suffering. This reflects the significant health impact these parasites can have on their hosts.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Plasmodium involves several stages in both the mosquito vector and the vertebrate host. The cycle begins when an infected mosquito bites a host, injecting the parasites into the host's bloodstream. The parasites then travel to the host's liver, where they multiply and mature before re-entering the bloodstream and infecting red blood cells.

Species

There are over 200 known species of Plasmodium, but only a handful are known to cause malaria in humans. These include Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae. Each species has a slightly different life cycle and causes a different form of the disease.

Related Terms

  • Malaria: A disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
  • Protozoa: A diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Plasmodium is a genus within this group.
  • Parasite: An organism that lives in or on an organism of another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense.

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