Why does Plasmodium falciparum infection result in the most serious hemolysis of the various forms of malaria?

a. Only reticulocytes are invaded.
b. Reticulocytes and RBCs less than 10 days old are invaded.
c. Only mature RBCs are invaded.
d. RBCs of all ages are invaded.

ANS: D
RBCs in all stages of development are invaded by P. falciparum. This is not true of the other malarial species, which invade only a portion of the circulating RBCs.