Faculty of science

) Microbiology & Biochemistry (

Protista

BMD-429

Research in protista about:

Malaria

(2023/2024)

Under the supervision of:

Prof.Dr.Mohamed Sayed

By: Enjy Mohamed Fathy

 Malaria

Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which

are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles
mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable.
Although this disease is uncommon in different climates, malaria is still
common in countries with a natural and semi-natural nature. Nearly 290
million people contract malaria every year, and more than 400,000 people
die from this disease.
Symptoms
The most common first symptoms of malaria are fever, headache, and
shivering.
Symptoms usually begin 10 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected
mosquito.
These symptoms may be mild in some people, especially in those who have
previously been infected with malaria. It is important to get tested for
malaria early because some symptoms of this disease are not specific .
Some types of malaria can cause severe illness and death. Infants, children
under five years of age, pregnant women, travelers, and those infected with
HIV/AIDS are at greater risk of infection. Severe symptoms include:
• Extreme exhaustion and fatigue
• Impaired consciousness
• Multiple seizures
• Breathing difficulty
• Dark or bloody urine
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
• Abnormal bleeding
• People who develop severe symptoms of the disease should get
emergency care immediately. Getting early treatment for mild malaria
can prevent the infection from getting worse.
Malaria infection during pregnancy can also cause premature birth or low
birth weight.
Burden of disease
According to the latest World Malaria Report , the number of malaria cases
reached 249 million in 2022 compared to a total of 244 million cases in
2021. The estimated number of malaria deaths was 608,000 in 2022
Compared to a total of 610,000 deaths in 2021.
The WHO African Region continues to bear a disproportionately large
share of the global malaria burden, with nearly 94% of all malaria cases and
95% of deaths resulting from it recorded in 2022. Children under the age of
five represented about 78% of all malaria deaths in the region.
Just over half of the world's total malaria deaths were recorded in four
African countries: Nigeria (26.8%), Democratic Republic of the Congo
(12.3%), Uganda (5.1%) and Mozambique (4.2%)

who is at risk of malaria

Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. In 2022, an

estimated 249 million people contracted malaria in 85 countries. That same
year, the disease claimed approximately 608 000 lives.

Some people are more susceptible to developing severe malaria than others.
Infants and children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and patients
with HIV/AIDS are at particular risk. Other vulnerable groups include
people entering areas with intense malaria transmission who have not
acquired partial immunity from long exposure to the disease, or who are not
taking chemo preventive therapies, such as migrants, mobile populations,
and travelers.

Some people in areas where malaria is common will develop partial

immunity. While it never provides complete protection, partial immunity
reduces the risk that malaria infection will cause severe disease. For this
reason, most malaria deaths in Africa occur in young children, whereas in
areas with less transmission and low immunity, all age groups are at risk.
Malaria prevention
Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites or taking medications.
Travelers heading to areas where malaria is common should consult a
doctor before traveling about taking medications such as
chemoprophylaxis.
The risk of malaria can be reduced by avoiding mosquito bites as follows :
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping in places where malaria is present
• Use mosquito repellents (containing diethyltoluamide, IR3535, or
Icaridin) after dusk
• Use of coils and vaporizers
• Wear protective clothing
Malaria transmission
The malaria infection cycle begins when a female mosquito bites a person
infected with malaria. The mosquito ingests blood containing the
reproductive cells of the parasite. Once inside the mosquito, the parasite
reproduces and migrates to the mosquito's salivary gland.
When the mosquito bites another person, it injects the parasites with its
saliva. Inside the newly infected person, the parasites travel to the liver and
reproduce again. They usually mature within 1-3 weeks on average, then
leave the liver and invade the person's red blood cells. These parasites
reproduce again other cells within red blood cells, eventually causing the
infected cells to rupture, releasing parasites that invade other red blood
cells.
In very rare cases, the disease is transmitted from an infected mother to her
fetus, or through a transfusion of contaminated blood, or through a
contaminated organ transplant, or through an injection with a needle that
was previously used by a person infected with malaria.

Types of malaria
There are five types of malaria parasites that can infect humans:
1. Plasmodium falciparum
2. Plasmodium vivax
3. Plasmodium ovale
4. Plasmodium malariae
5. Plasmodium knowlesi ( rare)

P. vivax and P. falciparum are the most common types of malaria. The
greatest number of deaths are caused by P. falciparum.
P. vivax and P. ovale can remain dormant in the liver and periodically
release adult parasites into the bloodstream, causing recurrent attacks of
symptoms. The dormant form is not killed by many antimalarial drugs .
However, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae do not remain
in the liver. However, mature forms of Plasmodium malariae can persist in
the bloodstream for months or even years before they cause symptoms .

Plasmodium knowlesi , which mainly infects monkeys, also causes malaria

in humans. It most often occurs in men who live near or work in forest
areas in Malaysia and other areas of Southeast Asia.
Diagnosis of malaria
• Rapid diagnostic blood test
• Examination of a blood sample under a microscope

A doctor suspects malaria when a person develops fever and other

characteristic symptoms during or after travel to an area where malaria is
present. Periodic fevers occur in less than half of American travelers with
malaria, but when present they suggest a diagnosis of malaria.
Malaria is diagnosed when Plasmodium parasites are detected:
• A rapid diagnostic blood test that detects proteins released by malaria
parasites (in this test, a blood sample and some chemicals are placed on a
test card; after about 20 minutes, specific bands appear on the card if the
person has malaria)
• Examination of a blood sample under a microscope

Both tests should be done if possible. If doctors don't see malaria parasites
during a microscopic examination, but still suspect malaria, they take
additional blood samples every 4 to 6 hours to check for parasites .
▪ https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-
answers/item/malaria?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_e2wBhAEEiwAyFFF
o_ISjShfqHT366ghjSdw5NTR2qWp07SVXOpes1mojuHF9jQO2aJnDRoCBk
QQAvD_BwE

▪ https://www.who.int/ar/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria

▪ https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles