Question

Fever in malaria is due to

• A. entry of sporozoites into blood capillaries
• B. entry of merozoites into liver cells
• C. release of merozoites from red blood cells
• D. entry of cryptomerozoites into red blood cells

Answer 1

The correct option is C

release of merozoites from red blood cells

The correct option is C.

Explanation of correct option:

1. Malaria is a disease induced by a parasite called plasmodium. The lifecycle of these protozoa is complicated and occurs in multiple stages in two hosts.
2. The first half of the development happens in the female Anopheles mosquito and the other half occurs in the human liver cells.
3. The sporozoites which were formed in the mosquito are released into the humans, now undergo maturation, and release merozoites from the red blood cells.
4. This release causes an increase in body temperature.

Explanation of incorrect options:

Option A:

1. Sporozoites are infective spores produced by the protozoans in the body of mosquitoes.
2. When mosquitoes feed on a blood meal, these sporozoites are released into the blood capillaries.
3. However, the entry does not have any effect on the temperature of the human body.

Option B: entry of merozoites into liver cells

1. Merozoites are a type of malarial parasite that infects the erythrocytes, or red blood cells, where these divide rapidly and produce gametocytes.
2. These are produced by the schizogony.

Option D: entry of cryptomerozoites into red blood cells

1. Cryptomerozoite is a stage of Plasmodium's life cycle. Cryptomerozoites are cryptozoites with smaller structures.
2. These rupture liver cells and target the host's red blood cells.

Final answer: Fever in malaria is due to the release of merozoites from red blood cells.