Sexual phase of life cycle in Plasmodium occurs in

Options

A. blood of man
B. gut of female Anopheles mosquito
C. salivary glands of Anopheles mosquito
D. body cavity of male Anopheles mosquito.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Plasmodium**: Plasmodium is a genus of unicellular eukaryotic parasites known to cause malaria. They require two different hosts to complete their life cycle: a human and a female Anopheles mosquito.

2. **Life Cycle Phases**: The life cycle of Plasmodium consists of two main phases: the sexual phase and the asexual phase. The sexual phase occurs in the mosquito, while the asexual phase occurs in humans.

3. **Identifying the Hosts**: The primary host for the sexual phase of Plasmodium is the female Anopheles mosquito. This is where the sexual reproduction of the parasite takes place.

4. **Location of Sexual Phase**: When the female Anopheles mosquito ingests blood containing Plasmodium gametocytes (the sexual form of the parasite), fertilization occurs in the gut of the mosquito. This is where the gametes fuse to form zygotes, leading to the development of new forms of the parasite.

5. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Blood of Man**: Incorrect, as the sexual phase does not occur in humans; only the asexual phase does.
- **Gut of Female Anopheles Mosquito**: Correct, as this is where the sexual reproduction takes place.
- **Salivary Glands of Anopheles Mosquito**: Incorrect, as the salivary glands are involved in the transmission of the parasite but not in the sexual phase.
- **Blood Cavity of Male Anopheles Mosquito**: Incorrect, as the male mosquito does not host the sexual phase of Plasmodium.

6. **Conclusion**: The sexual phase of the life cycle in Plasmodium occurs in the gut of the female Anopheles mosquito.

**Final Answer**: The sexual phase of the life cycle in Plasmodium occurs in the gut of the female Anopheles mosquito.

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