Origin of Malaria Disease - Essay Example

Environmental Studies Malaria Where the human malaria disease originate from, has been the question revolving from decades. Has it originated from chickens or chimpanzees, this question has been revolving and in debate since half of the previous century. The most common parasite of malaria, taking the lives of over one million people per year is known as, Plasmodium falciparum. Most of the research regarding this parasite has been stated unclear. According to the investigators the variant of Plasmodium is found in chickens. It has also been argued that the malaria found in both humans and chimpanzees is co-related to the common ancestor, five to six million years ago. According the research of Wolfe team, the parasite that infects chimpanzees is named as, P. reichenowi. This parasite is consisting of more genetic variability in comparison to those species which target humans. Generically, the older parasites demands more time to evolve variants; hence the diversification form of humans is far less as compared to the chimpanzees. After considering the detailed research on genomes, Stephen Rick found that the human malaria parasites are actually nested inside the parasites of chimpanzees. Meanwhile, the genetic data states P. falciparum as a mutated form of P. reichenowi. There are no such examples found either, which can relate the human malaria originated from a bird or a chicken other than chimpanzees. Stephen Rich’s theory also states that, a mosquito which feds on a chimp first and then on human, is apparently introducing the parasite into our lineage. The recent consistent observation declares that, malaria is less toxic on a chimp rather than human. According to Stephen Rich, chimpanzees have been around longer than human hence; the host and parasite balance their relationship with each other having lots of time in hand. Greg Lanzaro states that, to solve this puzzle of origin, the malaria, human genetics, mosquito spreading malaria and the parasite should all be put together. Stephen Rich’s investigation of malaria affecting chimps and passing over to humans is still in process, through more genomes details. (Peeples, 2009) Malaria disease has been highlighted on the surface of the earth for over 4000 years ago. First, the Chinese medical writing illuminated the symptoms of malaria. These symptoms were characterized in Nei Ching, in 2700 BC. The Emperor Huang Ti was the editor of Nei Ching. The first recognition of malaria was done in Greece, during the 4th century BCE. It resulted in the decline of the population of several states in that time. By the coming of Pericles age, extensive principles and symptoms of malaria were referred in literature along with the record of declining population due to this disease. Even the Sanskrit and Susruta, the medical treatise, involves the symptoms and fever of malaria disease caused by the bites of insects. The numerous Roman writers connected the malaria disease with the floods. In 1550 BCE, fevers, rigors, oil from balantines (mosquito resistant), and splenomegaly were mentioned by the Ebers Papyrus. In the 6th century, deadly malaria fevers influencing the mesopotmia were mentioned by Cuneiform tablets. In the Egyptian studies, Hippocrates first discovered the connection between the occurrence of fevers local bodies and nearness of stagnant bodies of water. In the second century BCE, in Chinese medical treatise, the Qinghao plant is mentioned with holding of 52 remedies of malaria, found in Mawangdui Tomb. (The History of Malaria, an Ancient Disease). Geo Hong was the man who described the anti-fever properties of Qinghao plant in, 340 CE. United State names this plant as annual or sweet wormwood. In 1971, the Chinese scientist isolated an active ingredient of Quinghao plant known as, artemisinin. Today, this ingredient comes with the combination with other medicines as most effective and potent antimalarial drugs. The increase in malaria temperatures was observed in Africa 7,000 to 12,000 years ago, due to the transitions in the climate change (rise in humidity while creating new water sources and agriculture areas). In Italy, it referred to as, “aria cattiva” = bad air; “malaria” = bad air. In French, Paludisme = rooted in swamps. (David Sullivan, 2006) Malaria occurrence depends upon the climate factors such as; humidity, rainfalls and temperatures. This disease is basically transmitted in tropical and subtropical areas where; malaria parasites are able to complete their growth cycle and where anopheles mosquitoes can survive and multiply. Most significant areas with the sensitive temperatures have maximum levels of malaria occurrence, for an example; in the areas with the temperature below 20 C (68 F), the Plasmodium falciparum is unable to complete its growth cycle, and thus cannot be transmitted. Plasmodium falciparum is the parasite, which causes severe malaria. The tropical and subtropical areas are also free from the transmission because; in some countries the interruption in transmission happens through successful eradication, transmission is influenced due to cooler seasons including desserts, the areas with high altitudes, and the islands available in the Pacific Oceans. Usually, the warmer regions are highly capable for the disease transmission because, malaria is transmitted year-round and P. falciparum predominates. The Africa South of Sahara is the more intense area with malaria disease transmission. Cooler areas escape the transmission because perhaps there P. vivax is more powerful due to the tolerance of ambient temperatures. The areas like United States and Western Europe have succeeded in eliminating malaria, through the help of economic development and health measures. (Malaria Countries and Map). South America and South East Asian countries are at high risk of occupying the malaria disease. Countries involving malaria mosquitoes are; Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar. That is because; the parasite development cycle in these countries is very short of about 24hours. Plasmodium is the major parasite causing malaria in humans. This parasite spreads in human body through the bite of an infected mosquito. This parasite spreads in humans by the female Anopheles mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are also known as ‘night-biting’ mosquitoes, which attacks in dusk and dawn. In a condition, if this mosquito bites an already malaria hostage, then it is possible that it will spread its parasites onto the other people. The transmission of malaria from one person to another is impossible. On getting bitten, a parasite usually enters into the bloodstream and travels directly to our liver. Initially, the infection is developed in human liver, before it goes back into bloodstream and captures the red blood cells. The parasite is then grown and multiplies in red blood cells. The infected blood cells then burst by releasing more parasites into the blood, at regular intervals. Usually, this burst action takes place every 48-72 years. When each time a cell burst it causes fever, sweat and chills in the human body. It is possible that, malaria can also be spread through sharing the already infected needle into a human body (rare) and also through blood transfusion. Plasmodium parasite consists of different types of parasites, out of which only five causes malaria disease in human body: (Causes of malaria , 2014) 1. Plasmodium falciparum: it is the most common type of malaria parasite, found in Africa. It has caused most deaths worldwide. 2. Plasmodium vivax: it is found in South America and Asia. It carries the milder symptoms as compared to plasmodium falciparum. This parasite can reside in human liver for several years, which can result into deterioration. 3. Plasmodium ovale: it is found in West Africa and is rarely uncommon. It can last in human liver for several years, producing no symptoms. 4. Plasmodium malariae: it only resides in Africa and is quite rare. 5. Plasmodium knowlesi: it is found in the parts of South East Asia and is too much rare. Falciparum causes the most dangerous type of malaria which is often called black water fever which can prove to be fatal. Falciparum enters red blood cells and causes their breakdown. Excessive breakdown of red blood cells leads to the release of hemoglobin in the blood. When the level of hemoglobin in blood increases too much to be filtered by the kidneys, it causes renal tubular damage and the release of hemoglobin in the urine. This hemoglobin gives a dark color to the urine and hence the black water fever. Other types parasites cause severe shivering and fevers associated with sweating but rarely prove lethal. Also, parasites other than plasmodium falciparum do not affect red blood cells that much (Sullivan, 2006). The life cycle of malarial parasite in the host is characterized by a phase which involves their growth in blood cells and the extracellular phase. Intracellular/intra red blood cell phase usually does not cause any symptoms, the signs and symptoms of malaria occur only when the death of red cell occurs and parasite is released in the blood stream. Of the above mentioned types of malarial parasites, two cause symptoms every third day and two cause symptoms at an interval of one day (Sullivan, 2006). This is due to their intra-erythrocyte phase duration which is different for different types of malarial parasites. WHO has started a program by the name of roll back malaria the purpose of which is to eliminate the causative organism and the vector so that any epidemic with genetic mutation or drug resistance could be avoided. References Causes of malaria . (2014, January 09). Retrieved April 21, 2015, from www.nhs.uk: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malaria/Pages/Causes.aspx David Sullivan, M. J. (2006). Malariology Overview . Malaria Countries and Map. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from www.malaria.com: http://www.malaria.com/overview/malaria-countries-map Peeples, L. (2009, August 18). The Origin of Human Malaria. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from www.scientificamerican.com: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/origin-human-malaria-chimpanzees/ The History of Malaria, an Ancient Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from www.cdc.gov: http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/history/ Read More