CGCC Mortuary Science Microbiology Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Your Exam Success!

Malaria is a disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Once the parasite enters the bloodstream, it targets red blood cells, where it multiplies and leads to various symptoms associated with malaria, such as fever, chills, and anemia.

The life cycle of the Plasmodium parasite is specifically adapted to involve both human and mosquito hosts, with the mosquito being essential for the transmission of the disease. This multiplies in the red blood cells of the human body, leading to the characteristic symptoms of the illness.

Dengue, Zika, and Yellow fever are all viral diseases that are also transmitted by mosquitoes; however, they do not involve multiplication within red blood cells in the same way that malaria does. Instead, these viruses replicate in various cells of the immune system or other tissues. This highlights how malaria distinctly involves red blood cells, distinguishing it from the other diseases mentioned.