Which organism causes malaria as a parasite?

Which organism causes malaria as a parasite?

• A. Dirofilaria
• B. Plasmodium
• C. Leishmania
• D. Trypanosoma

Answer: (B)

Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. When an Anopheles mosquito bites a person, it injects sporozoites that travel to the liver, multiply, and then release merozoites that invade red blood cells, producing the fever and anemia characteristic of malaria. There are several Plasmodium species that infect humans, all belonging to this genus, which is why it’s the correct organism in this question. The other organisms listed cause different diseases: Dirofilaria is a worm that leads to heartworm in animals; Leishmania causes leishmaniasis; Trypanosoma causes sleeping sickness or Chagas disease depending on the species.

Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. When an Anopheles mosquito bites a person, it injects sporozoites that travel to the liver, multiply, and then release merozoites that invade red blood cells, producing the fever and anemia characteristic of malaria. There are several Plasmodium species that infect humans, all belonging to this genus, which is why it’s the correct organism in this question. The other organisms listed cause different diseases: Dirofilaria is a worm that leads to heartworm in animals; Leishmania causes leishmaniasis; Trypanosoma causes sleeping sickness or Chagas disease depending on the species.