Question: Susan was bitten by an Anopheles mosquito and tested positive for malaria. What type of pathogen has caused this infection
a. Bacterium
b. Protozoan
c. Prion
d. Virus
Answer:
b. Protozoan
Explanation:
Plasmodium is the causative agent of malaria and is carried by female Anopheles mosquito. The parasite enters the bloodstream when the female Anopheles mosquito bites. Plasmodium is a parasitic protozoan and belongs to the kingdom Protista. Protozoans are unicellular eukaryotes. They are heterotrophic organisms and derive their nutrition from parasitism or predation. Plasmodium is a sporozoan since its spore life stage of the life cycle is infectious.
