During the liver stage of malaria, the parasite primarily replicates in which organ?

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Study for the Introduction to Parasitology Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam thoroughly!

Multiple Choice

During the liver stage of malaria, the parasite primarily replicates in which organ?

Explanation:
The important idea is that the liver hosts the hepatic (pre-erythrocytic) stage, where the parasite first multiplies. Sporozoites delivered by the mosquito travel to the liver and invade hepatocytes, undergoing asexual replication (hepatic schizogony) to generate thousands of merozoites. These merozoites are then released into the bloodstream to infect red blood cells, leading to the symptomatic blood stage. The other organs listed aren’t where this initial replication occurs—the spleen, bone marrow, and lungs have roles in malaria’s pathology and immune responses, but the hepatic replication center is the liver.

The important idea is that the liver hosts the hepatic (pre-erythrocytic) stage, where the parasite first multiplies. Sporozoites delivered by the mosquito travel to the liver and invade hepatocytes, undergoing asexual replication (hepatic schizogony) to generate thousands of merozoites. These merozoites are then released into the bloodstream to infect red blood cells, leading to the symptomatic blood stage. The other organs listed aren’t where this initial replication occurs—the spleen, bone marrow, and lungs have roles in malaria’s pathology and immune responses, but the hepatic replication center is the liver.

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