ASCP Parasitology Practice Exam

The main host for the transmission of malaria is indeed mosquitoes, specifically those belonging to the Anopheles genus. These mosquitoes serve as the primary vectors responsible for transmitting the Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria. When an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a human, it injects saliva that contains sporozoites, the infectious form of the parasite. These sporozoites then travel to the liver, where they multiply before entering the bloodstream and infecting red blood cells, resulting in the symptoms associated with malaria.

This transmission cycle is critical for the spread of malaria in various regions, particularly in tropical and subtropical climates where conditions are favorable for both the mosquitoes and the Plasmodium parasites. Understanding this relationship is crucial for implementing effective control strategies, such as insecticide-treated nets and mosquito control programs, to reduce the incidence of malaria in affected areas.

Other insects listed, such as ticks, sand flies, and kissing bugs, are not involved in malaria transmission and instead play roles in other diseases, further emphasizing the unique role of mosquitoes in the malaria life cycle.