Question

Which of the following causes chills and fever in malaria?
A) Hematin
B) Hemozoin
C) Schuffner’s granules
D) Hematocrit

Answer 1

Hint: Malaria is a mosquito borne disease caused by Plasmodium species. The disease is considered life threatening and is characterized by fever, chills, vomiting and headaches. The Plasmodium parasites digest haemoglobin to produce pigments that cause the characteristic symptoms of malaria.

Complete answer:
Option (A): Hematin is a brownish pigment that contains iron. Hematin contains iron in the ferric state and is obtained by the oxidation of haem containing compounds like haemoglobin (present in red blood cells of animals). It is found in bone marrow, liver and spleens. The malarial parasites oxidize haemoglobin of the host organism and form hematin. Hematin settles down in the reticuloendothelial cells.
Option (B): Hemozoin is a compound formed by digestion of haemoglobin of blood. It is formed by the malarial parasites in the host body. The digestion of blood releases free haem, which is converted to hemozoin. Hemozoin is referred to as the malaria pigment. The formation of hemozoin is important for the survival of the parasites in the host body and discharges parasitic wastes that are known to cause fever and chills in malarial patients. The malarial drugs also target the pigment hemozoin and prevent its formation in order to kill the parasites.
Option (C): Schuffner’s granules are small red coloured granules present in the red blood cells that are infected with Plasmodium spp. Schuffner’s granules are important markers that help to identify the species of malarial parasite a person is infected with.
Option (D): The concentration of red blood cells in a blood sample is known as hematocrit. The RBC(s) transport oxygen to different body parts, and therefore, it is very important to maintain the optimum concentration of RBC(s) in blood. Reduction in RBC concentration is referred to as anaemia, while very high concentration of RBC is characteristic of polycythemia.

Option B is the correct answer.

Note: Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The parasites are spread by mosquito vectors of the Anopheles genus. Infected Anopheles mosquitoes can infect human beings while biting them. The disease can prove to be fatal if not identified and treated within time. The Plasmodium parasites are known to digest haemoglobin and form hemozoin that are accumulated in the RBC(s). Hemozoin helps us to identify the species of the parasite patients are infected with and also serves as the target for malarial drugs.