Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte density and infectivity in peripheral blood and skin tissue of naturally infected parasite carriers in Burkina Faso

Meibalan, E. et al. (2021) Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte density and infectivity in peripheral blood and skin tissue of naturally infected parasite carriers in Burkina Faso. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 223(10), pp. 1822-1830. (doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz680) (PMID:31875909) (PMCID:PMC8161640)

Abstract

Background: Plasmodium falciparum transmission depends on mature gametocytes that can be ingested by mosquitoes taking a blood meal on human skin. Although gametocyte skin sequestration has long been hypothesized as important contributor to efficient malaria transmission, this has never been formally tested. Methods: In naturally infected gametocyte carriers from Burkina Faso, we assessed infectivity to mosquitoes by direct skin feeding and membrane feeding. We directly quantified male and female gametocytes and asexual parasites in finger-prick and venous blood samples, skin biopsy samples, and in of mosquitoes that fed on venous blood or directly on skin. Gametocytes were visualized in skin tissue with confocal microscopy. Results: Although more mosquitoes became infected when feeding directly on skin then when feeding on venous blood (odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–3.33; P = .007), concentrations of gametocytes were not higher in the subdermal skin vasculature than in other blood compartments; only sparse gametocytes were observed in skin tissue. Discussion: Our data strongly suggest that there is no significant skin sequestration of P. falciparum gametocytes. Gametocyte densities in peripheral blood are thus informative for predicting onward transmission potential to mosquitoes and can be used to target and monitor malaria elimination initiatives.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Achcar, Dr Fiona and Gibbins, Dr Matt and Marti, Professor Matthias and Moxon, Dr Christopher
• Authors: Meibalan, E., Barry, A., Gibbins, M. P., Awandu, S., Meerstein-Kessel, L., Achcar, F., Bopp, S., Moxon, C., Diarra, A., Debe, S., Ouédraogo, N., Barry-Some, I., Badoum, E. S., Fagnima, T., Lanke, K., Gonçalves, B. P., Bradley, J., Wirth, D., Drakeley, C., Guelbeogo, W. M., Tiono, A. B., Marti, M., and Bousema, T.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0022-1899
• ISSN (Online): 1537-6613
• Published Online: 26 December 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Infectious Diseases 223(10): 1822-1830
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License