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Which microorganisms cause malaria and influenza?
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Microbiology
Photomicrograph of Streptococcus pyogenes, a bacterium that can cause scarlet fever. (Magnified about 900Γ.)
Malaria and influenza are caused by distinct types of microorganisms:
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Malaria is caused by parasitic protozoans belonging to the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are typically transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Once in the human body, the parasites infect and replicate within liver cells and red blood cells, leading to the characteristic symptoms of the disease.12
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Influenza is caused by several closely related RNA viruses within the family Orthomyxoviridae. These viruses are categorized into types A, B, C, and D. Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal outbreaks and epidemics in humans, while type C typically causes only mild respiratory illness.34