BRAINCAKEPlasmodium spp.
Malaria is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium ('spp.' means several species). Five species infect humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. P. falciparum is the most dangerous and causes most malaria deaths, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. P. vivax is widespread in Asia and South America.
Plasmodium is a parasite with two hosts:
• the human, where it reproduces asexually
• the female Anopheles mosquito, the vector, where sexual reproduction takes place.
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Key terms in this lesson
- vector
- An organism, usually an insect, that transmits a pathogen from one host to another without itself being harmed by it.
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All 17 lessons in Viruses, Fungi and Protozoa · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics