Biology 2016 JAMB Past Questions - Question 36: Exo-erythrocytic phase of the life cycle of malaria parasite occurs in the

Correct Answer

A

Explanation

30minutes after the injection of minute malaria parasites (sporozoites) into the blood stream of man, the parasites disappear incompletely from the blood and enter the liver cells. In the liver cells the parasites undergo asexual reproduction twice called pre and exo-erythrocytic phases phases to produce large quantity of the parasites (merozoites) to prolong disease in alatent from indefinitely until the resistance of man to malaria is lowered. The parasites (merozoites) are now released Into the blood stress while some may be retained in the liver ceils. The parasites invade the red blood cells destroying them and releasing toxin into the blood stream which causes fever while in the red blood cells, the parasites grow and transform into male and female gametoeytes (reproductive structures). When mosquito bites man it sucks blood and the gametocytss. While in the mosquito, the gametoeytes undergo sexual reproduction.