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Taxonomy
Kingdom: Chromista
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Order: Haemosporida
Family: Plasmodiidae
Genus: Plasmodium
Species: P. falciparum
Primary Literature
65 specimens who died of malaria (Ferguson and White, 2003)
Process: tissues collected, examined under transmission electron microscopy, areas medulla, cerebellum, cerebrum examined for parasitized red blood cells (Ferguson and White, 2003)
Object: examine brains of those with cerebral malaria (impedes oxygen delivery to brain) versus noncerebral malaria, role of malaria in coma, how do these cells impact brain areas (Ferguson and White, 2003)
Conclusion: Parasitized blood cells most commonly found in cerebellum (motion center of brain), followed by cerebrum (3mm tissue), medulla (Ferguson and White, 2003)
Sequestration of parasitized blood cells to these areas is important to understanding of how cerebral malaria impacts these areas (by impeding oxygen delivery, ultimately shutting these areas down) (Ferguson and White, 2003)
Disruption to blood-brain barrier (allows entrance of toxins)
Further studies:
Other brain areas
Other areas of the world (was done in Southeast Asia)
General Information
Preventative medication can be taken prior to travel (mefloquine, etc) to prevent infection
Asexual reproduction
Passed from host to host via insect vector (Anopheles mosquito) (Malaria-risk countries, n.d.)
Food: Gains nutrients from host, utilize hemoglobin to gain amino acids (Counihan et al., 2021)
Habitat: Resides within host (Counihan et al., 2021)
Malaria is most common in Congo, Nigeria, Mozambique, India, Uganda (Malaria-risk countries, n.d.)
Temperate climates
Signs and symptoms of malaria:
Fever
Chills
General feeling of discomfort
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Muscle or joint pain
Fatigue
Rapid breathing
Rapid heart rate
Cough
(Malaria - Mayo Clinic, n.d.)
References
Counihan, N. A., Modak, J. K., & de Koning-Ward, T. F. (2021). How Malaria Parasites Acquire Nutrients From Their Host. Frontiers in cell and
developmental biology, 9, 649184. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.649184
Malaria-Risk Countries: Where It’s Most Common. (n.d.). Mosquito Squad.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, February 9). Malaria. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184
Pongponratn, E., Turner, G. D., Day, N. P., Phu, N. H., Simpson, J. A., Stepniewska, K., Mai, N. T., Viriyavejakul, P., Looareesuwan, S., Hien, T. T.,
Ferguson, D. J., & White, N. J. (2003). An ultrastructural study of the brain in fatal Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 69(4), 345–359.
Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, September 29). Plasmodium falciparum. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasmodium_falciparum
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