A study of gametocytes in a west african strain of plasmodium falciparum

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Abstract
Laboratory studies on this strain transmitted by an Indian mosquito (Anopheles stephensi), were carried out in England. A very high percentage of gametocyte production was obtained, particularly in cases where the primary attack was aborted by antimalarial drugs. It is believed that inadequate treatment of a primary attack increases gametocyte production, permits mosquito infection, and leads to relapses. "Proguanil" (paludrine) seems to be very effective in making radical cures of primary attacks. Macrogametocytes appear before the microgametocytes and persist much longer in the blood stream, having a life cycle of at least 60 days. The gametocytes seemed to evolve from asexual forms in about 3 weeks after a primary infection is established, and in 2-4 days after a relapse. Thin film preparations were found to be more efficient study material than thick films since the parasites are more readily detected and there is less chance for artifacts to be misinterpreted or for malformations of the parasites to occur.
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