Before I even begin to explain malaria’s life cycle, let’s look at a very simplistic video that shows all the steps of malaria’s life cycle in a human host. That way when I explain it, the visuals can be put in your head. The following video is the animated life cycle video:

Now it is my turn to explain!

So Here’s a chart that will explain malaria’s life cycle inside a human host cell:

Phases	Description	Diploidy
Sporozoite	This is when the parasite is introduced to the human body. This happens when an infected mosquito feeds on human blood and transfer their infected saliva to our body (they inject there saliva to prevent our blood from clotting while they have a feast). The sporozoite travels to our liver and infects the liver cells.	Haploid
Schizont	When the sporozoite infect the liver cell and matures it becomes a schizont (asexual reproduction occurred). The schizont will rupture the liver cell and release merozoite.	Haploid
Merozoite	Once merozoites are released form the liver cells they travel into the bloodstream until they find a red blood cell to infect.	Haploid
Trophozoites	During this phase nutrients is being absorbed from the red blood cell. This is the ring phase that will mature into a schizonts. During this phase asexual reproduction is taking place	Haploid
Gametocyte	Some of the parasite will differentiate into a sexual cell but will remain dormant in the human body. The red blood cell containing the gametocyte will not burst. Instead, the male gametocyte (microgametocytes) and the female gametocytes (macrogametocytes) waits to be ingested by a mosquito to become active	Haploid

Now here’s a chart that will explain malaria life cycle inside a mosquito host cell:

Cycle	Description	Diploidy
Gamete	This phase is where the parasite begins to go through sexual reproduction and the male gametocyte fertilize the female gametocyte	Diploid
Oocyst	This sticks to the mosquito’s midgut wall and will grow and rupture to release sporozoites	Diploid
Sporozoites	Makes their way to the mosquito saliva and waits to infect a human host	Haploid

From the chart you should have gathered that malaria can reproduced sexually and asexually. The parasitic protist reproduces sexually in mosquitos and asexually in humans. They do not replicate outside of a host. Malaria is heterophrophic.

Additionally, here are two beautifully animated videos of the lifecycle of malaria. I know what you’re think…

But please watch these videos for a good understanding (they are not long). I really love how detailed the animation were. Personally, this is one of my favorite biological animated videos I’ve seen!! What do you think about those videos? After watching so many videos about malaria, does it make you fear going out in the summer? Drop a comment down below and give me your thoughts.

Citation:

https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/biology/index.html