Malignant tertian malaria is caused by

Options

A. Plasmodium ovale
B. Plasmodium falciparum
C. Plasmodium vivax
D. Plasmodium malariae

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Malaria Types**:
- There are different types of malaria, which are classified based on the fever cycle and the causative agents. The three main types are benign tertian malaria, benign quatern malaria, and malignant tertian malaria.

2. **Identifying Benign Tertian Malaria**:
- Benign tertian malaria is characterized by fever occurring every second day. The causative agents for this type are *Plasmodium vivax* and *Plasmodium oval*.

3. **Identifying Benign Quatern Malaria**:
- Benign quatern malaria is characterized by fever occurring every third day. The causative agent for this type is *Plasmodium malariae*.

4. **Identifying Malignant Tertian Malaria**:
- Malignant tertian malaria is a more severe form of malaria. It is characterized by a less pronounced cold stage but a prolonged fever stage. This type is particularly dangerous and can lead to serious complications. The causative agent for malignant tertian malaria is *Plasmodium falciparum*.

5. **Evaluating the Options**:
- The options given are:
- *Plasmodium oval* (causes benign tertian malaria) - Incorrect
- *Plasmodium falciparum* (causes malignant tertian malaria) - Correct
- *Plasmodium vivax* (causes benign tertian malaria) - Incorrect
- *Plasmodium malariae* (causes benign quatern malaria) - Incorrect

6. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the information, the correct answer to the question "Malignant tertian malaria is caused by" is *Plasmodium falciparum*.

**Final Answer**: Malignant tertian malaria is caused by *Plasmodium falciparum*.

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