Review of Malaria and Plasmodium Species

This is a basic overview of the disease malaria and the causative agents, Plasmodium species. The life cycles of the parasites and their differentiating characteristics in the human host are discussed, for Plasmodium falciparum. P. ovale, P. vivax, P. malariae. Case studies demonstrate the disease states caused by each species.

Lecture Presenter
DeVon C. Hale, MD
DeVon C. Hale, MD
Assistant Dean of International Medical Education, University of Utah School of Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine
Professor of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine

DeVon C. Hale, MD is Assistant Dean for Idaho Affairs and International Medical Education at the University of Utah School of Medicine. As an infectious disease physician, his research interests include tropical infectious diseases, travel medicine and global health issues.

Dr. Hale’s recent publications involve diseases in returning travelers and optimal pre-travel preparation for travelers. He also studies the prevalence of parasitic diseases in tropical countries.

Hale received his MD from the University of Utah. He received training in medicine and infectious diseases from the Ohio State University, University of California, Irvine and the University of Utah. In the past, Hale served as Director of the Tropical Disease and Travel Medicine Clinic at the University and is a consultant to six travel medicine clinics in Utah. He is currently a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He is co-director of the Utah site for the GeoSentinel surveillance program funded by the CDC. He is the Assistant Dean of International Medical Education and has helped establish educational programs for the University of Utah Global Health Initiative.

Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

Discuss the unique life cycle of the parasite Plasmodium, in the human host and insect vector.
Correctly identify the parasite based on the patient history and structures observed in the patient’s blood smears.
Provide recommended guidelines for prevention and treatment of malaria.