Which of the following species cause the most fatal form of malaria?

Options

A. P. falciparum
B. P. malaria
C. P. vivax
D. P. ovale

Answer

To determine which species causes the most fatal form of malaria, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand Malaria and Its Causative Agents
Malaria is a disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. There are several species of Plasmodium that can infect humans, including:
- Plasmodium falciparum
- Plasmodium malariae
- Plasmodium vivax
- Plasmodium ovale

### Step 2: Identify the Characteristics of Each Species
Each species of Plasmodium has different characteristics and severity of the disease it causes:
- **Plasmodium falciparum**: Known to cause the most severe and fatal form of malaria.
- **Plasmodium malariae**: Generally causes a milder form of malaria.
- **Plasmodium vivax**: Causes a more widespread form of malaria but is not as fatal as P. falciparum.
- **Plasmodium ovale**: Similar to P. vivax, it causes a less severe form of malaria.

### Step 3: Evaluate the Severity of Malaria Caused by Each Species
Among these species, P. falciparum is recognized for its high mortality rate. It can lead to severe complications such as cerebral malaria, anemia, and multi-organ failure, making it the most dangerous form of malaria.

### Step 4: Conclusion
Based on the characteristics and severity of the malaria caused by each species, the species that causes the most fatal form of malaria is **Plasmodium falciparum**.

### Final Answer
**Plasmodium falciparum** causes the most fatal form of malaria.

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