Haemosporidia Plasmodium vivax - This is the most common species of human malaria. All species of Plasmodium are transmitted by mosquitos Other human species include P. malarie, P. ovale, and P. falciparum . In addition to those occurring in humans, Plasmodium species occur in many other mammals and avians. The life cycle involves sporozoites being introduced with the bite of the infected mosquito.
Merozoites enter either new hepatic cells or RBCs.
If gametes are picked up along with the blood meal taken by a susceptible mosquito, these gametocytes initiate the sexual cycle. A-sexual division results in sporozoites that migrate to the salivary glands and are capable of producing an infection when inoculated by the feeding mosquito. Schizogony occurs in endothelial cells of blood vessels. Hippobosid flies are the typical vector for most species. Most cases are asymptomatic with a large percentage of wild birds, especially morning doves, being infected.