Malaria Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to malaria, its transmission, symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

Malaria

A parasitic disease caused by the genus Plasmodium.

Plasmodium

A genus of parasitic protozoa responsible for malaria.

Anopheles mosquito

The primary vector for malaria transmission.

Sporozoite

The stage of malaria parasite that first infects human liver cells.

Hypnozoite

The dormant stage of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale in the liver.

Recrudescence

A resurgence of malaria symptoms caused by low-level parasitemia.

Paroxysm

Periodic fever due to red blood cell rupture releasing merozoites.

Asexual reproduction

The mode of reproduction in the malaria parasite during the erythrocytic stage.

Gametogony

The process of sexual reproduction in malaria occurring in the mosquito.

Erythrocytic stage

The phase of malaria life cycle occurring in red blood cells.

Sporogony

The stage of the malaria life cycle in the mosquito where sexual reproduction occurs.

Tertian malaria

Malaria caused by P. vivax and P. ovale with a 48-hour fever cycle.

Quartan malaria

Malaria caused by P. malariae with a 72-hour fever cycle.

Quotidian malaria

Malaria caused by P. knowlesi with a 24-hour fever cycle.

Merozoite

The form of malaria parasite that infects red blood cells after multiplying in the liver.

Schizont

A stage of the malaria parasite that divides to produce merozoites.

Schüffner's dots

Reddish granules found in red blood cells infected by P. vivax.

Ziemann's stippling

Pale pink dots observed in the cytoplasm of infected red blood cells by P. malariae.

Drug prophylaxis

Preventive treatment using medications like chloroquine or mefloquine.

Hematin

Malaria pigment produced during the infection, accumulating in infected cells.

Blood smear microscopy

The primary diagnostic technique for detecting malaria.

Artesunate

A key treatment for severe P. falciparum malaria.

Incubation period

The time it takes for clinical symptoms to appear after malaria infection.

Definitive Host

The host (mosquito) where the malaria parasite undergoes sexual reproduction.

Intermediate Host

The host (human) where the malaria parasite undergoes asexual reproduction.

Congenital transmission

The transmission of malaria from an infected mother to her fetus.

Insecticides

Chemicals used for vector control in malaria prevention.

Protective clothing

Personal measures to prevent malaria infection.

Bed nets

Protective barrier to prevent mosquito bites during sleep.

Repellents

Substances applied to skin to prevent mosquito bites.

Fever cycle

The pattern of fever associated with different Plasmodium species.

P. falciparum

The species of Plasmodium responsible for the most severe form of malaria.

P. vivax

A Plasmodium species causing benign tertian malaria.

P. malariae

A Plasmodium species causing quartan malaria.

P. ovale

A Plasmodium species that causes ovale tertian malaria.

P. knowlesi

A Plasmodium species that causes quotidian malaria.

Gametocyte

The sexual form of the malaria parasite that can be taken up by mosquitoes.

Ookinete

The zygote formed in the mosquito that develops into an oocyst.

Oocyst

The cyst in the mosquito where sporozoites develop after fertilization.

Sporozoite injection

The process by which sporozoites are introduced into the human bloodstream by mosquitoes.

Liver infection

The initial phase of malaria where sporozoites infect liver cells.

Male gametocyte

The form of the malaria parasite that develops into a male gamete in the mosquito.

Female gametocyte

The form of the malaria parasite that develops into a female gamete in the mosquito.

Hepatocytes

The liver cells infected by malaria sporozoites.

Ameboid motility

The type of movement displayed by certain forms of Plasmodium in red blood cells.

Clinical symptoms

Symptoms that appear after malaria infection, typically related to the immune response.

Vector control measures

Strategies implemented to reduce malaria transmission by controlling its mosquito vectors.

Chloroquine

A drug used for the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria.

Mefloquine

An alternative drug for malaria prophylaxis, especially in endemic regions.

P. vivax relapse

The reactivation of dormant hypnozoites leading to new malaria symptoms.