CoROM cast. Wilderness, Austere, Remote and Resource-limited Medicine. 134-Malaria Deep Dive with Jason Jarvis
Mar 14, 2025
Tropical medicine specialist Jason Jarvis, with an MSc in infectious disease, joins for an engaging discussion on malaria. He explains the complex lifecycle of malaria, emphasizing the role of Anopheles mosquitoes and the various stages of the parasite in humans. Jason delves into symptoms, diagnostic challenges, and effective treatments. The conversation highlights the promising R21 vaccine, focusing on childhood vaccination while exploring future adult trials. They discuss critical public health initiatives to combat this deadly disease and the need for robust information from trusted sources.
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Malaria's Complex Two-Host Lifecycle
- Malaria is caused by apicomplexan protozoa transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes during nighttime blood meals.
- The parasite lifecycle alternates between liver (hidden exoerythrocytic) and red blood cell stages, complicating immune detection.
Nighttime Bite Prevention Matters
- Use insecticide-treated bed nets and proper repellents when sleeping or outdoors at night in endemic regions.
- Cover skin and avoid unprotected exposure between evening and sunrise to reduce bites.
Liver Stage Produces Merozoite Flood
- Infected hepatocytes become schizonts and release thousands of merozoites that rapidly invade red blood cells.
- Merozoites vary surface antigens and circulate briefly, making vaccine targeting of this stage difficult.