For a 2 micron cell diameter (a relatively large bacterium or a very small eukaryotic cell), the 4 nm thickness implies an aspect ratio of 1:500, similar to the case of an airplane.
Malaria is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium. Human malaria is caused by four different species of Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. vivax. Humans occasionally become infected with Plasmodium species that normally infect animals, such as P. knowlesi.
The disease malaria is caused by infection by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium. While approximately 156 species of Plasmodium are known to infect various vertebrates, only four species infect humans.(2) Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae are the parasites that cause malaria in humans.(1) Occasionally human cases of simian malaria are reported, mostly caused by P. knowlesi.2) Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae are the parasites that cause malaria in humans. (1) Occasionally human cases of simian malaria are reported, mostly caused by P. knowlesi.