What pathogen causes malaria?

What pathogen causes malaria?

• A. Bacteria.
• B. Fungi.
• C. Protists.
• D. Viruses.

Answer: (C)

Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite in the genus Plasmodium, which are protists—eukaryotic microorganisms that are not bacteria, fungi, or viruses. These parasites are transmitted to humans by Anopheles mosquitoes. After entering the body, Plasmodium develops in the liver and then invades red blood cells, producing the fever cycles and anemia characteristic of the disease. Understanding this as a protist infection helps explain its life cycle and why treatments target the parasite itself rather than bacterial or viral mechanisms.

Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite in the genus Plasmodium, which are protists—eukaryotic microorganisms that are not bacteria, fungi, or viruses. These parasites are transmitted to humans by Anopheles mosquitoes. After entering the body, Plasmodium develops in the liver and then invades red blood cells, producing the fever cycles and anemia characteristic of the disease. Understanding this as a protist infection helps explain its life cycle and why treatments target the parasite itself rather than bacterial or viral mechanisms.