Questions: What genus causes malaria?
Plasmodium
Trichomonas
Entamoeba
Trypanosoma
Toxoplasma
Transcript text: What genus causes malaria?
Plasmodium
Trichomonas
Entamoeba
Trypanosoma
Toxoplasma
Solution
The answer is the first one: Plasmodium.
Explanation for each option:
Plasmodium: This is the correct answer. Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. There are several species of Plasmodium that infect humans, including Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae.
Trichomonas: This is incorrect. Trichomonas is a genus of anaerobic protozoa, and the most well-known species, Trichomonas vaginalis, causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection.
Entamoeba: This is incorrect. Entamoeba is a genus of amoeboid protozoa, and the most notable species, Entamoeba histolytica, causes amoebiasis, which can lead to amoebic dysentery.
Trypanosoma: This is incorrect. Trypanosoma is a genus of kinetoplastid protozoa, and species such as Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi cause diseases like African sleeping sickness and Chagas disease, respectively.
Toxoplasma: This is incorrect. Toxoplasma is a genus of parasitic protozoa, and the species Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, which can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.
Summary:
Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium.