Plasmodium vivax

Plasmodium vivax is a parasite responsible for causing malaria, a disease transmitted by infected Anopheles mosquito bites. Once inside the human body, it infects liver cells and then red blood cells, leading to symptoms like fever, chills, sweating, and fatigue. P. vivax is notable for forming dormant stage forms called hypnozoites in the liver, which can reactivate months or years later, causing relapses. It is prevalent in parts of Asia, Latin America, and some regions of Africa. Treating P. vivax requires medications targeting both the blood-stage parasites and the dormant liver forms to prevent relapse.