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Glite Dictionary
Plasmodium

Plasmodium

1 9.2
A tiny living thing that lives in mosquitoes and people and can cause malaria
  • noun
  • /plæzˈmoʊdiəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Plasmodium
  • The parasite is known as a Plasmodium, and they're four species of Plasmodium that cause human malaria.
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Plasmodium infection
  • Plasmodium malaria

Examples

  • The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the most severe form of malaria in humans.

  • Human infection is caused by protozoans Plasmodium falciparum (the most common and virulent strain), P. malariae, P. vivax, or P. ovale.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Here is Plasmodium hiding in an infected red blood cell.

  • The development of a safe and effective vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major public health objective.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The final dataset included 354 observations of individual adults who tested positive or negative for Plasmodium spp.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Plasmodium falciparum strains resistant to chloroquine, Fansidar, and mefloquine are widespread.

    Academic text (2014)

  • Using a hospital-based survey of women giving birth and an antenatal survey, we assessed the prevalence rates of Plasmodium infection in pregnant women in two malaria-endemic areas of Bolivia.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Scientists study various species of Plasmodium to develop better treatments for malaria.

  • Infected individuals may have detectable levels of Plasmodium in their blood during a malaria infection.

Synonyms

malaria parasite
vsPlasmodium
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A very small single cell that lives in human blood, spreads by mosquito bites and causes malaria

is broader and includes species that infect animals
Plasmodium falciparum
vsPlasmodium
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A parasite made of one cell that causes the most severe kind of malaria in humans

is the general genus name covering many species beyond this one
Plasmodium vivax
vsPlasmodium
  • Specialized
9.6

A one-celled parasite that causes a form of malaria in people with returning fevers

is the broader genus term not limited to this species' illness pattern

Compounds

Plasmodium falciparum
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A parasite made of one cell that causes the most severe kind of malaria in humans

Plasmodium vivax
  • Specialized
9.6

A one-celled parasite that causes a form of malaria in people with returning fevers

Surface Forms

Plasmodium singular
Plasmodia plural

Etymology

Plasmodium comes from the Greek root plasma, meaning 'something formed', with the small ending -idium meaning 'little'. The name paints a picture of a tiny formed blob, which fits these small parasites that change shape in the blood and cause malaria.