An infective mosquito bite will infect:

NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 Shift-2nd

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 Shift-2nd

Explanation

An infective Anopheles mosquito bite transmits the Plasmodium parasite.
The parasite's life cycle in humans involves two main stages: an initial, asymptomatic stage in the liver and a subsequent symptomatic stage in the blood.
In the blood stage (erythrocytic stage), the parasite specifically invades, multiplies within, and destroys red blood cells.
The destruction of red blood cells leads to the characteristic clinical manifestations of malaria, including anemia, fever, and chills.

Option B: Plasma is the liquid component of blood that serves as a transport medium for cells and substances, including the malaria parasite. However, it is not the cellular target for parasite replication.
Option C: White blood cells are part of the body's immune system. They are activated to combat the malaria infection but are not the primary host cells for the Plasmodium parasite's replication.
Option D: Coagulation is the physiological process of forming a blood clot. It is a complex cascade of protein activation, not a cellular structure that can be infected by a parasite.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pathophysiology of Malaria as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding that malaria infects red blood cells is fundamental for diagnosis. The gold standard for diagnosis is the microscopic examination of a peripheral blood smear to identify parasites within the RBCs.
The clinical signs of malaria, such as anemia (from RBC destruction) and jaundice (from hemoglobin breakdown), are direct consequences of the erythrocytic stage of infection.
This knowledge guides treatment, as most antimalarial drugs are designed to target the parasite during its asexual replication phase within the red blood cells.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'infective mosquito bite' and 'infect'. This points towards a vector-borne infectious disease.
Recall common diseases transmitted by mosquitoes in regions like India, with malaria being a primary example.
Access your knowledge of the pathophysiology of malaria, specifically the life cycle of the Plasmodium parasite in the human host.
Remember the two-stage process: an initial, asymptomatic liver stage followed by a symptomatic blood stage.
Focus on the blood stage, which is responsible for the illness. The parasite specifically targets and replicates within a particular type of blood cell.
Evaluate the options: Plasma is a liquid, white blood cells are for immunity, and coagulation is a process. Red blood cells are the known target for the erythrocytic stage of malaria, making it the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 396-398

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