Major Essay: Malaria Infection by P. falciparum - Biology

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of malaria infection caused by Plasmodium falciparum, a major contributor to global mortality. The essay delves into the microbiology of the parasite, detailing its complex life cycle, including sexual and asexual reproduction within the mosquito and human hosts, respectively. It explores the host response to the infection, differentiating between innate and adaptive immunity, and highlighting the roles of various immune cells and cytokines. The epidemiology section discusses the global distribution of malaria, focusing on the prevalence rates in different WHO regions and the countries with the highest burden of the disease, such as Nigeria and India. The essay also covers the clinical complications of malaria, the current treatment strategies, including the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), and preventive measures such as mosquito nets. Additionally, the essay touches on the future of malaria treatment and prevention, emphasizing the importance of diagnostic testing and ongoing research to combat this deadly disease.

Malaria Infection by P.falciparum
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Introduction
Malaria is counted as one of the most killer disease in the world and
every year a huge number of people is died due to the outbreak of this
disease. or P.falciparum is one of the dominant species which can be a
cause for this disease. , World Health Organization (WHO) also
declared that every year 800,000 people die due to the malaria
disease.
Microbiology
The Plasmodium parasite in their complex life style, completes the sexual and
asexual reproduction. The sexual reproduction takes place in the body of the
mosquito and on the other hand the, asexual reproduction is occurred in the
red blood cells and liver cells of the human body. The sporozoites are
converted into schizonts. From these schizonts merozoites are produced. The
uninfected RBCs are also infected by those merozoites as they invade new
RBCs and the process is again repeated. When a female mosquito sucks
blood from an infected person, the merozoites are also transferred into the
body of the mosquito and the converted merozoites then enter the stomach of
the mosquito. release the sporozoites through the process of rupture and
then the sporozoites make their way towards the salivary gland of the
mosquito (World Health Organization 2019). From the salivary glands the
sporozoites enter into a new human host to perpetuate a new malaria life
cycle.
Host Response
In case of P. falciparum infection in the human body there are two type of
responsive immunity system. First one is the innate or natural immunity and
the second one is the adaptive or acquired immunity. Innate immunity is
produced by Natural killer cells (NK Cells), intermediate TCR cells and
autoantibody producing cells that is B-1 cells, Interferon gama. IL-8, is
associated with the activation of the other cells that can provide protection during the
malaria infection. Adaptive immunity is produced by the pattern recognition receptors
(PRRs) and those PRRs include CD36 , Toll like receptors ( TLRs), inflammatory
cytokines such as dendritic cells (DCs), interferon- gama (IFN-γ). However, the
cytokine IL10 and Transforming growth factor -β (TGF-β), negatively regulate the
adaptive and innate immunity responses against the disease (Belachew 2018).
Host Response
Complications
Malarial infection in different WHO
region
Treatment
Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) along with
sulfadoxinepyrimethamine (SP) has reduced the malaria related
anemia among the woman. Therefore, use of mosquito nets are also
highly recommended practice for the prevention of this disease (World
Health Organization 2018). As a part of the treatment, the diagnostic
testing such as RDT is recommended. After the test, antimalarial
treatment can be started. Artemisinin-based combination therapies
(ACTs) is also used for the treatment of the P.falciparum infections.
Epidemiology
Conclusion
Hence it can be concluded that the Malaria has become one of the most
dangerous diseases in the world. Most of the African countries like Nigeria,
Madagascar, and Republic of Congo has the highest number of
prevalence rate and those countries also have the very high death rate
due to this disease in the whole world. Therefore, the Asian country India
also has a higher prevalence rate and death rate due to this disease.
References
Belachew, E.B., 2018. Immune Response and Evasion Mechanisms of Plasmodium
falciparum Parasites. Journal of immunology research, 2018
Herchline A, T., 2018. What are the possible complications of malaria caused by
Plasmodium falciparum (P falciparum)? Medscape. Retrieved from :
https://www.medscape.com/answers/221134-40789/what-are-the-possible-complications-
of-malaria-caused-by-plasmodium-falciparum-p-falciparum#qna [ [Accessed on : 7th
March, 2019]
World Health Organization., 2018. Overview of malaria treatment. Malaria. Retrieved
from : https://www.who.int/malaria/areas/treatment/overview/en/ [ Accessed on : 7th
March, 2019]
World Health Organization., 2018. World Malaria Report 2018. World Health Organization.
Retrieved from : https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/275867/9789241565653-
eng.pdf?ua=1 [Accessed on : 7th March, 2019]
• cerebral malaria
• Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema
• blackwater fever or Hemoglobinuria
• Hypoglycemia
• Coagulopathy (Herchline 2018)
• As per the report of WHO, in AFR200 region almost 99.7% cases of
malaria infection due to falciparum infection has been reported. In
SEAR region the amount is 62.8%, in EMR region 69.0%, in WPR
region 71.9% and in AMR region 25.9% falciparum infection cases
were reported.
• Among the total cases of malaria, 25% is reported from Nigeria,
11% is reported from the Republic of Congo and 4% is reported
from India
• Among the total 80% malaria deaths in the world, Nigeria holds the
first position in this list by contributing almost 19% death cases
related to malaria (World Health Organization 2018).