A simple, field-applicable method to increase the infectivity of wild isolates of Plasmodium falciparum to mosquito vectors.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101139802 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1475-2875 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14752875 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Malar J Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2002-
    • Subject Terms:
      Plasmodium falciparum*/physiology ; Anopheles*/parasitology ; Mosquito Vectors*/parasitology; Animals ; Humans ; Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology ; Malaria, Falciparum/transmission ; Female ; Feeding Behavior
    • Abstract:
      Background: The direct membrane feeding assay (DMFA), whereby gametocyte-infected blood is collected from human donors and from which mosquitoes feed through a membrane, is proving essential for assessing parameters influencing Plasmodium transmission potential in endemic countries. The success of DMFAs is closely tied to gametocyte density in the blood, with relatively high gametocytaemia ensuring optimal infection levels in mosquitoes. As transmission intensity declines with control efforts, the occurrence of asymptomatic individuals with low gametocyte densities, who can significantly contribute to the infectious reservoir, is increasing. This poses a limitation to studies relying on the experimental infection of large numbers of mosquitoes with natural isolates of Plasmodium. A simple, field-applicable method is presented for improving parasite infectivity by concentrating Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes.
      Methods: Anopheles gambiae received one of the following 5 blood treatments through DMFA: (i) whole blood (WB) samples from naturally-infected donors; (ii) donor blood whose plasma was replaced with the same volume of Plasmodium-naive AB + serum (1:1 control); (iii) plasma replaced with a volume of malaria-naïve AB + serum equivalent to half (1:1/2), or to a quarter (1:1/4), of the initial plasma volume; and (v) donor blood whose plasma was fully removed (RBC). The experiment was repeated 4 times using 4 distinct wild parasite isolates. Seven days post-infection, a total of 1,095 midguts were examined for oocyst presence.
      Results: Substituting plasma with reduced amounts (1:1/2 and 1:1/4) of Plasmodium-naive AB + serum led to a 31% and 17% increase of the mosquito infection rate and to a 85% and 308% increase in infection intensity compared to the 1:1 control, respectively. The full removal of plasma (RBC) reduced the infection rate by 58% and the intensity by 64% compared to the 1:1 control. Reducing serum volumes (1:1/2; 1:1/4 and RBC) had no impact on mosquito feeding rate and survival when compared to the 1:1 control.
      Conclusions: Concentrating gametocytic blood by replacing natural plasma by lower amount of naive serum can enhance the success of mosquito infection. In an area with low gametocyte density, this simple and practical method of parasite concentration can facilitate studies on human-to-mosquito transmission such as the evaluation of transmission-blocking interventions.
      (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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    • Grant Information:
      « ANORYTHM » no. ANR-16-CE35-0008 Agence Nationale de la Recherche; « ANORYTHM » no. ANR-16-CE35-0008 Agence Nationale de la Recherche; « ANORYTHM » no. ANR-16-CE35-0008 Agence Nationale de la Recherche
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Anopheles gambiae; Plasmodium falciparum; DMFA; Experimental infections; Gametocyte infectivity; Transmission-blocking interventions
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20240506 Date Completed: 20240506 Latest Revision: 20240509
    • Publication Date:
      20240509
    • Accession Number:
      PMC11075210
    • Accession Number:
      10.1186/s12936-024-04969-0
    • Accession Number:
      38711028