How does plasmodium enters the body of a mosquito?

The process by which *Plasmodium*, the parasite that causes malaria, enters the body of a mosquito is known as sporozoite transmission. Here's how it happens:

1. Blood Meal: When an infected female *Anopheles* mosquito takes a blood meal from a human host, it simultaneously injects sporozoites, a form of the malaria parasite, into the person's bloodstream.

2. Migration to the Gut: The sporozoites travel through the human's bloodstream until they reach the liver, where they mature and reproduce asexually. This stage of development is known as the exoerythrocytic phase.

3. Development in the Oocysts: Inside the mosquito, the sporozoites develop into oocysts, which are sac-like structures containing thousands of sporozoites.

4. Rupture of Oocysts: The oocysts grow and eventually rupture, releasing sporozoites into the mosquito's body cavity (hemocoel).

5. Migration to the Salivary Glands: The released sporozoites migrate to the mosquito's salivary glands, where they mature and become infective.

6. Transmission During a Blood Meal: When the mosquito takes another blood meal from a human, it injects the infective sporozoites into the person's bloodstream, starting the cycle again.

It's important to note that only female *Anopheles* mosquitoes transmit malaria, as they require a blood meal to produce eggs. Male mosquitoes feed on nectar and fruits and do not transmit the disease.