Osmosis video - Plasmodium species (Malaria)

Plasmodium is a genus of parasites that cause malaria in humans and other animals. Five species of Plasmodium primarily infect humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. People get infected with malaria when they are bitten by a plasmodium-infected female Anopheles mosquito. P. falciparum is known to cause the most dangerous form of malaria, resulting in most of malaria deaths worldwide. Treatment typically involves antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine, mefloquine, or artemisinin-based combination therapies.