Question

The characteristic chills and shivering during infection of Plasmodium coincides with
A. Release of hemozoin granules by rupture of RBC during the release of merozoites.
B. Increase in trophozoites size that gives out certain toxins.
C. Release of sporozoites from RBCs and their breakdown inside the spleen.
D. Destruction of microgametophytes and megagametocytes by the WBCs.

Answer 1

Hint: Life cycle of Plasmodium parasite occurs in 3 parts- gametocytes, sporozoites, merozoites

Complete answer: Plasmodium is a genus of protozoa.
The most common species causing fatal malaria are- P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale.
It infects the red blood cells of humans during its life cycle. It occurs when female anopheles mosquitoes bite healthy human beings.
To complete the life cycle, the parasite requires two hosts, one is a mosquito, and the other is human.

1. When the Anopheles mosquito sits on humans and has its blood meal, the parasite enters the human bloodstream as sporozoites which are the infectious form of the parasite.
2. After this, the parasite multiplies within the liver and then is released in the form of merozoites within one or tweaks the schizonts are multiplied into merozoites.
3. These merozoites are released from the liver and attack the red blood cells. The rupture of RBC is associated with the release of hemozoin. This hemozoin is a toxic substance and is responsible for chill and high fever occurring every three or four days.
4. When another anopheles mosquito bites an infected person, the parasite is transmitted into the mosquito as the male gametocytes called microgametocytes and female gametocytes called microgametocytes which was developed in the RBC of the human.
5. Fertilization and development take place in the gut of mosquitoes and are stored in their salivary glands. When these infected mosquitoes bite healthy individuals, they transmit the disease further.

Therefore the correct option is (A) Release of hemozoin granules by rupture of RBC during the release of merozoites.

Note: Male mosquito never causes malarial infection, it is only the female Anopheles mosquito that causes infection.