Plasmodium malariae
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2008-06-03T01:09:08Z
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/76.67.54.155|76.67.54.155]] ([[User talk:76.67.54.155|talk]]) to last version by Katalaveno
{{Taxobox
| color = greenyellow
| name = ''Plasmodium malariae''
| image = Mature Plasmodium malariae schizont PHIL 2715 lores.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = [[Giemsa]]-stained micrograph of a mature ''Plasmodium malariae'' [[wiktionary:schizont|schizont]]
| regnum = [[Protista]]
| phylum = [[Apicomplexa]]
| classis = [[Aconoidasida]]
| ordo = [[Haemosporida]]
| familia = [[Plasmodiidae]]
| genus = ''[[Plasmodium]]''
| species = '''''P. malariae'''''
| binomial = ''Plasmodium malariae''
| binomial_authority = [[Raimondo Feletti|Feletti]] & [[Giovanni Battista Grassi|Grassi]], 1889
}}
'''''Plasmodium malariae''''' is a [[parasite|parasitic]] [[protozoa]] that causes [[malaria]] in humans and animals. It is closely related to ''[[Plasmodium falciparum]]'' and ''[[Plasmodium vivax]]'' which are responsible for most malarial infection. While found worldwide, it is a so-called "benign malaria" and is not nearly as dangerous as that produced by ''P. falciparum'' or ''P. vivax''. ''P. malariae'' causes [[fever]]s that recur at approximately three-day intervals (a ''quartan fever''), longer than the two-day (tertian) intervals of the other malarial parasites.
==Signs and symptoms==
Plasmodium malariae causes a long-lasting, chronic infection that in some cases can last a lifetime. In some patients P. malariae can cause serious complications such as the nephrotic syndrome.
==Biology==
===Life cycle===
''P. malariae'' is the only human malaria parasite that causes [[fever]]s that recur at approximately three-day intervals (therefore occurring evey fourth day, a ''quartan fever''), longer than the two-day (''tertian'') intervals of the other malarial parasites.<ref name"cdc">{{cite web
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| title = Biology: Malaria (CDC malaria)
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| url = http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/biology/parasites/index.htm
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====Human Infection====
====Liver Stage====
Within the hepatocytes, the exoerythrocytic schizogony stage of ''P. malariae'' has a minimum duration of roughly 15 days.<ref name="1.4">{{cite web
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| title = Malaria eModule - Exo-Erythrocytic Stages
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| url = http://www.impact-malaria.com/FR/EPS/Formations_et_cours_internationaux/Formation_de_la_Liverpool_School_LSTMH/cours_liverpool/Unit_1/1_4.html
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====Erythrocytic Cycle====
The total length of the intraerythrocytic development is roughly 72 hours for ''P. malariae''.<ref name="1.5">{{cite web
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| title = Malaria eModule - ASEXUAL ERYTHROCYTIC STAGES
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| url = http://www.impact-malaria.com/FR/EPS/Formations_et_cours_internationaux/Formation_de_la_Liverpool_School_LSTMH/cours_liverpool/Unit_1/1_5.html
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At the schizont stage, after schizogonic division, there are roughly 6-8 parasite cells in the erythrocyte.<ref name="1.5"/>
====Sexual Stage====
====Mosquito Stage====
==Laboratory considerations==
''[[Plasmodium vivax|P. vivax]]'' and ''[[Plasmodium ovale|P. ovale]]'' that has been sitting in [[EDTA]] for more than half-an-hour before the blood film is made will look very similar in appearance to ''P. malariae'', which is an important reason to warn the laboratory immediately when the blood sample is drawn so they can process the sample as soon as it arrives.
Microscopically, the parasitised [[red blood cell]] (erythrocyte) is never enlarged and may even appear smaller than that of normal red blood cells. The [[cytoplasm]] is not decolorized and no dots are visible on the cell surface. The food vacuole is small and the parasite is compact. Cells seldom host more than one parasite. Band forms, where the parasite forms a thick band across the width of the infected cell, are characteristic of this species (and some would say is diagnostic). Large grains of [[malarial pigment]] are often seen in these parasites: more so than any other ''Plasmodium'' species. 8 merozoites
==References==
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[[Category:Apicomplexa]]
[[Category:Malaria]]
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[[ca:Plasmodi de la malària]]
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[[pl:Zarodziec malaryczny]]