Gametocytes and erythrocytic cycle of malarial parasite occur in

Options

A. RBC/blood of man
B. salivary glands of Anopheles
C. stomach of female Anopheles
D. stomach of male Anopheles.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Life Cycle of the Malarial Parasite**: The malarial parasite, primarily Plasmodium species, has a complex life cycle that involves both a human host and a female Anopheles mosquito.

2. **Infection Process**: The cycle begins when an infected female Anopheles mosquito takes a blood meal from a human, releasing sporozoites into the bloodstream.

3. **Liver Stage**: The sporozoites travel to the liver, where they invade liver cells and develop into schizonts. These schizonts mature and release merozoites back into the bloodstream.

4. **Erythrocytic Cycle**: The merozoites then enter red blood cells (RBCs), also known as erythrocytes. Inside the RBCs, they undergo asexual reproduction, developing from ring stage to trophozoite, then to schizont, and finally rupturing the RBC to release more merozoites. This process is known as the erythrocytic cycle.

5. **Gametocyte Formation**: After the erythrocytic cycle, some merozoites differentiate into gametocytes (male and female). These gametocytes are crucial for the sexual reproduction phase of the parasite.

6. **Transmission to Mosquito**: When another female Anopheles mosquito bites an infected human, it ingests these gametocytes. Inside the mosquito's gut, gametogenesis occurs, leading to the formation of zygotes and eventually sporozoites, which will be released back into the human host during the mosquito's next blood meal.

7. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the gametocytes and the erythrocytic cycle of the malarial parasite occur in the red blood cells (RBCs) of humans.

**Final Answer**: The gametocytes and erythrocytic cycle of the malarial parasite occur in the red blood cells (RBCs) of humans.

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