Question

Malignant Malaria caused by
A. Plasmodium Vivax
B. Plasmodium Malariae
C. Plasmodium Ovale
D. Plasmodium Falciparum

Answer 1

Hint: The word "malignant" means ‘tending to produce death or deterioration’. Thus, the disease of ‘Malignant Malaria’ is a type of malaria which is its most severe form. The genus that produces parasites that are responsible for causing Malaria is Plasmodium. Plasmodium is believed to be having over 100 species. But, only 4 have been recognised. It is known to have been the main cause of intravascular haemolysis (rupture of blood cells) with haematuria (appearance of blood in urine) sometimes leading to death.

Complete Answer:
1. Plasmodium Vivax or P. Vivax is mainly found in Asia and South America. It causes mild symptoms but is known to be able to stay in the liver for up to 3 years.
2. Plasmodium Ovale or P. Ovale is an uncommon parasite which causes tertian malaria but is not fatal.
3. Plasmodium Malariae can remain in a human host for an extended period of time and still remain infectious to mosquitoes. But it is not as fatal as P. Falciparum.
4. Plasmodium Falciparum is known to be the most common type of malaria parasite and is responsible for most malignant malaria deaths worldwide. The disease is also known as Falciparum Malaria due to this parasite.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note: Plasmodium Falciparum has its own criteria which makes it more responsible for malaria in malignant levels. Due to this protozoa, multiple infection of red blood cells is more common for this parasite. Double chromatin dots of P. Falciparum rings in the infected red blood cells can be easily visible.