Malaria parasite harm liver cells

Options

A. In erythrocytic cycle
B. After erythrocytic cycle
C. Before erythrocytic cycle
D. None of these

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Malaria Parasite**: The malaria parasite is known as Plasmodium, which is a type of protozoan. It is a single-celled eukaryote and an obligate parasite, meaning it cannot survive without a host.

2. **Hosts of the Malaria Parasite**: Plasmodium has two hosts in its life cycle. The first host is an Anopheles mosquito, which is responsible for transmitting the parasite. The second host is usually a vertebrate, such as humans.

3. **Life Cycle of Plasmodium**: The life cycle of Plasmodium involves switching between these two hosts. When the mosquito bites a human, it injects the parasite into the bloodstream.

4. **Infection of Liver Cells**: Once in the human body, the malaria parasite travels to the liver, where it infects liver cells known as hepatocytes. This occurs before the erythrocytic cycle begins.

5. **Multiplication in Liver Cells**: Inside the liver cells, the parasite multiplies over a period of 5 to 6 days, forming a stage called the schizont. This stage eventually causes the liver cells to burst, releasing new forms of the parasite called merozoites.

6. **Erythrocytic Cycle**: After the liver cells are harmed and the merozoites are released, they enter the bloodstream and infect red blood cells (RBCs), leading to the erythrocytic cycle. This is where the parasite continues to multiply and cause further harm.

7. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the malaria parasite harms liver cells before the erythrocytic cycle begins. The correct answer to the question is that the malaria parasite harms liver cells before the erythrocytic cycle.

### Final Answer:
The malaria parasite harms liver cells **before the erythrocytic cycle**.

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