Select the one statement that is false: a) All species of Plasmodium can cause relapses. b) Merozoites are the form of Plasmodium that invades red blood cells. c) Plasmodium sexual reproduction involves fusion of a male and female cell to produce a zygote. d) The "knobs" on infected red blood cells increase P. falciparum mortality by reducing immune system clearance of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells. e) Plasmodium has an organelle that specializes in taking up and using hemoglobin as a nutrient .f) Nearly all malaria deaths are caused by P. falciparum.

ANSWER: (A) All species of Plasmodium can cause relapses.

EXPLANATION: All species of Plasmodium can cause relapses is FALSE.

Based on series of research on malarial parasites, only two species of Plasmodium can cause relapses (P. vivax and P. ovale.).

These species of plasmodium are known for causing relapses i.e the reappearance of parasitemia after treatment of affected individuals.

However, it is assumed that the subset of the parasites that caused the primary infection caused the relapses.

Furthermore, individuals who are cured of their blood stage may have a subsequent infection without reinfection (relapses). This is caused by the presence of the latent (exo-erythrocytic) stage, which exhibit dormancy in the body.

Select the one statement that is false: a) All species of Plasmodium can cause relapses

Explanation:

This statement "All species of plasmodium can cause relapses" is false, because only two species of Plasmodium can cause relapses. These two are Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale. These species can cause malaria, people can develop symptoms even years after the initial infection due to activation of a dormant hypnozoite in the liver.