Correct Answer:
C. Plasmodium
Malaria is spread through Plasmodium, which is the genus of parasitic protozoa that causes the disease.
- While the Anopheles mosquito is the vector that transmits the Plasmodium parasite to humans, Plasmodium itself is the causative agent of malaria. The disease is a result of the parasite's life cycle within the human body.
- Bacteria and viruses are different types of microorganisms and are not responsible for causing malaria.
Understanding the distinction between the pathogen and its vector is key to comprehending disease transmission.