Journal of Infectious Diseases & Preventive Medicine
Open Access

Plasmodium Vivax

Plasmodium vivax is a protozoal parasite and a human pathogen. This parasite is the most frequent and Plasmodium is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. distributed cause of recurring malaria.

vivax preferentially penetrates young red blood cells (reticulocytes), unlike Plasmodium falciparum which can invade erythrocytes. In order to achieve this, merozoites have two proteins at their apical pole (PvRBP-1 and PvRBP-2). The parasite uses the Duffy blood group antigens (Fy6) to penetrate red blood cells.

Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant species in the world. P. vivax and P. ovale are traditionally thought to occupy complementary niches, with P. ovale predominating in Sub-Saharan Africa and P. vivax in the other areas; but their geographical ranges do overlap.