Which of the following is an example of a protozoan pathogen?

Which of the following is an example of a protozoan pathogen?

• A. Salmonella
• B. Influenza
• C. Plasmodium
• D. Candida

Answer: (C)

Protozoan pathogens are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that cause disease by infecting and multiplying in host tissues. Plasmodium fits this description as a protozoan parasite responsible for malaria. It belongs to the Apicomplexa group and has a life cycle that involves transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes, liver stage development, and red blood cell invasion, leading to the characteristic illness. This sets it apart from the other options: Salmonella is a bacterium, influenza is a virus, and Candida is a fungus. Hence, Plasmodium is the protozoan pathogen in the list.

Protozoan pathogens are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that cause disease by infecting and multiplying in host tissues. Plasmodium fits this description as a protozoan parasite responsible for malaria. It belongs to the Apicomplexa group and has a life cycle that involves transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes, liver stage development, and red blood cell invasion, leading to the characteristic illness. This sets it apart from the other options: Salmonella is a bacterium, influenza is a virus, and Candida is a fungus. Hence, Plasmodium is the protozoan pathogen in the list.