Which cell type is predominantly affected by Plasmodium species during infection?

Plasmodium species are the causative agents of malaria, and they specifically target erythrocytes, or red blood cells. The lifecycle of Plasmodium involves the sporozoite stage being injected into the human host by an infected mosquito. Once inside the bloodstream, the sporozoites travel to the liver, where they mature into merozoites. These merozoites then re-enter the bloodstream and invade erythrocytes.

Once inside erythrocytes, Plasmodium species replicate and cause changes in the red blood cells, leading to their lysis and contributing to the symptoms of malaria, such as anemia and jaundice. This direct impact on erythrocytes is a defining characteristic of malaria and is why red blood cells are the cell type predominantly affected during Plasmodium infections.

Other cell types mentioned, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, play roles in the immune response but are not the primary targets of the infection, which clearly underscores the focus on erythrocytes in the context of Plasmodium species.