Interactive
The lifecycle of the malaria parasite is split between female
mosquitoes and humans. In the mosquito gut, the parasites complete
sexual reproduction and then multiply rapidly to produce many more
parasites. The human stages begin with a bite from a
malaria-infected mosquito. The parasites multiply in the liver and
then invade red blood cells. The cycle is completed when a
different female mosquito bites the host and consumes the
parasite-infected red blood cells.