Malaria epidemiology

species

plasmodium falciparum

  • P. falciparum is the most pathogenic and resistant to standard antimalarials
  • can be rapidly fatal
  • lacks a liver phase (hypnozooites)

incubation period

  • 9 to 14 days for P falciparum
  • 12 to 18 days for P. vivax and P. ovale.
  • 18 to 40 days for P. malariae

generic life cycle

Stage Organ
Sporozoites Enter liver
asexual replication Schizont Liver (hepatocytes)
optional - inactive stage Hypnozoite Liver (hepatocytes)
replication in bloodstream (When schizonts mature) Merozoites Bloodstream → RBCs
Schizogony in bloodstream Trophozoites (→ schizont → merozoite) Bloodstream → RBCs
  • P. ovale and vivax have hypnozoites that can persist in the liver for many years