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The Plasmodium life cycle is very complex, involving two hosts. Which of the choices shows the correct sequence of events in this cycle?

1. Red blood cells are infected.
2. Mosquito bite occurs.
3. Plasmodium enters the liver.
4. Red blood cells are destroyed.
5. Plasmodium grows and develops merozoites.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The correct sequence of events in the Plasmodium life cycle involves mosquito bite, Plasmodium entering the liver, Plasmodium growing and developing merozoites, red blood cells getting infected, and red blood cells getting destroyed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct sequence of events in the Plasmodium life cycle is as follows:

Mosquito bite occurs: When an infected mosquito takes a blood meal, sporozoites in the mosquito salivary gland are injected into the host's blood.

Plasmodium enters the liver: The injected sporozoites circulate to the liver, where they develop into schizonts.

Plasmodium grows and develops merozoites: The trophozoites develop into schizonts, which undergo schizogony, releasing more merozoites to continue the cycle.

Red blood cells are infected: The schizonts undergo schizogony, resulting in the release of many merozoites, which move to the bloodstream and infect red blood cells.

Red blood cells are destroyed: Inside red blood cells, merozoites develop into trophozoites that produce more merozoites. The synchronous release of merozoites from red blood cells leads to the symptoms of malaria.

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