Sporozoa

Plasmodium:
Protozoa lives in blood & tissues.
Life cycle
Alteration of generations – one sexual(sporogony) and
one asexual(schizogony). Alteration of generation occurs
with alteration of hosts. Mosquito for sexual(definitive
host) and humans for asexual(intermediate host).
Infective stage is sporozoite.
Life cycle in humans:
Infection is caused by bite of female anopheles mosquito-
injection of sporozoites into blood circulation.
Different stages:
Pre-erythrocytic schizogony: Development of sporozoite
in the liver.
Sporozoites are injected into peripheral blood by
female anopheles mosquito. Sporozoites move to
liver – undergo phase development before attacking
RBC.
Sporozoites are spindle shaped and elongated.
In liver cells- undergo morphological changes to
rounded forms and developes into schizont.
Each schizont contains20000-50000 merozoites.
Process takes about 7-8 days in P.vivax &
P.falciparum.
In end of the stage- liver cells ruptured – large
number of merozoites released into circulation.
Erythrocytic schizogony: Phase in the RBC in peripheral
circulation.
Merozoites penetrate RBC & mature there.
Go through phases of developing into – trophozoites-
schizonts- merozoites.
Each RBC have 6-24 merozoites.
RBC rupture- merozoites released – attack fresh RBC-
cycle repeated.
Gametogony: Occurs in RBC in peripheral circulation.
After several cycles some merozoites develop into male
and female gametocytes.
Male is called- microgametocyte; female-
macrogametocyte.
These are sucked by female anopheles mosquito in a blood
meal – undergoes sexual maturation in mosquito.
Undergoes further development into infective stage –
sporozoite.
Sporozoite resides in the salivary glands of mosquito.
Injected into human when mosquito bites the person.
Exo-erythrocytic schizogony:
Seen only in Pl.vivax.
Sporozoites injected go to the liver cell – donot undergo
development or multiplication. Go into a resting stage or
hibernating stage – hence also known as Hypnozoite.
Remain dormant for long period – upto 2 yrs – when
reactivated become schizont- release merozoites – attacks
RBC.
This causes relapse in Pl.vivax malaria.
Life cycle in Mosquito:
Female anopheles mosquito – definitive host – sexual
development.
During blood meal- ingest parasite – mature sexual forms
– ie male & female gametocytes undergo fertilization –
form – zygote in the midgut of mosquito.
Zygote matures to form – ookinete. This undergoes
further development to form – oocyst – dvelopes –
mature – forms several hundreds or thousands of
sporozoites in it.
Oocyst rupture – sporozoites released – into body cavity
– migrate to various parts especially salivary glands – stay
there and injected into next human during blood meal.
Cycle repeats.
 MALARIA
The symptoms of malaria typically develop within 10 days
to 4 weeks following the infection. In some cases,
symptoms may not develop for several months. Some
malarial parasites can enter the body but will be dormant
for long periods of time.
Four kinds of malaria parasites that can infect
humans: Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P.
falciparum.
Clinical features:
Characterised by intermittent fever. Accompanied by chills,
splenomegaly, and hemolytic anaemia as numerous RBCs
are ruptured during infection.
Clinical conditons caused by Pl.falciparum:
Perinicious malaria:
A series of phenomena occuring during the course of an
infection of P.falciparum which ,if not effectively treated,
threatens the life of the patient within 1 to 3 days.
serious complications that may develop in pernicious
malaria are the result of capillary blockage consequent
upon decreased effective circulating blood volume. the
blockade of the capillary blood vessels of the internal
organs arises from agglutination of parasitised erythrocytes.
Cerebral malaria – occurs when brain capillaries are
clogged with parasites. Hyperpyrexia, coma and collapse
occurs.
 Algid malaria – shock and peripheral liver failure.
characterised by cold and clammy skin with vascular
collapse leading to peripheral circulatory failure.
 Gastric type- presents with vomitings
Choleraic type- watery diarrhoea
Dysenteric type- passage of blood in faeces
Septicaemia: all stages of parasite is seen in peripheral
blood.
continous high temp, pneumonia,cardiac syncope.
Black water fever: Intravascular haemolysis , fever and
haemoglobinuria – results in death.
Treatment
 Malaria can normally be treated with antimalarial drugs.
The type of drugs and length of treatment depend on
which kind of malaria is diagnosed, where the patient
was infected, the age of the patient.
Chloroquine remains highly effective. Alternative drugs
such as mefloquine, pyrimethamine/ sulfadoxine quinine,
quinidine, halofantrine and artemisinin derivatives are
used.