Observations on the periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in natural human infections

S M Magesa; Y K Mdira; J A Akida; I C Bygbjerg; P H Jakobsen

Observations on the periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in natural human infections

S M Magesa, Y K Mdira, J A Akida, I C Bygbjerg, P H Jakobsen

Centre for Medical Parasitology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The circadian periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in peripheral blood was analysed in a group of children from an holoendemic community of north-eastern Tanzania. No periodicity was observed with asexual stage parasites. Gametocytes were shown to display a diurnal subperiodic pattern with a periodicity index of 31. 8. Mathematical analysis of the data indicated that P. falciparum gametocytes tend to display periodicity with a peak (15:30-19:30 h) that do not coincide with the peak (00:30-03:30 h) biting activity of the local vector, Anopheles gambiae. We were thus able to show a P. falciparum gametocyte periodicity with a harmonic wave pattern, but its functional biological significance if any, is currently unknown.

Original language	English
Journal	Acta Tropica
Volume	76
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	239-46
Number of pages	7
ISSN	0001-706X
Publication status	Published - 2000

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Animals; Anopheles; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Insect Vectors; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Mathematics; Microfilaria; Parasitemia; Periodicity; Plasmodium falciparum; Tanzania; Time Factors

Cite this

@article{c5b62a80e61311ddbf70000ea68e967b,

title = "Observations on the periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in natural human infections",

abstract = "The circadian periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in peripheral blood was analysed in a group of children from an holoendemic community of north-eastern Tanzania. No periodicity was observed with asexual stage parasites. Gametocytes were shown to display a diurnal subperiodic pattern with a periodicity index of 31. 8. Mathematical analysis of the data indicated that P. falciparum gametocytes tend to display periodicity with a peak (15:30-19:30 h) that do not coincide with the peak (00:30-03:30 h) biting activity of the local vector, Anopheles gambiae. We were thus able to show a P. falciparum gametocyte periodicity with a harmonic wave pattern, but its functional biological significance if any, is currently unknown.",

author = "Magesa, {S M} and Mdira, {Y K} and Akida, {J A} and Bygbjerg, {I C} and Jakobsen, {P H}",

note = "Keywords: Animals; Anopheles; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Insect Vectors; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Mathematics; Microfilaria; Parasitemia; Periodicity; Plasmodium falciparum; Tanzania; Time Factors",

year = "2000",

language = "English",

volume = "76",

pages = "239--46",

journal = "Acta Tropica",

issn = "0001-706X",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "3",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Observations on the periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in natural human infections

AU - Magesa, S M

AU - Mdira, Y K

AU - Akida, J A

AU - Bygbjerg, I C

AU - Jakobsen, P H

N1 - Keywords: Animals; Anopheles; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Insect Vectors; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Mathematics; Microfilaria; Parasitemia; Periodicity; Plasmodium falciparum; Tanzania; Time Factors

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - The circadian periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in peripheral blood was analysed in a group of children from an holoendemic community of north-eastern Tanzania. No periodicity was observed with asexual stage parasites. Gametocytes were shown to display a diurnal subperiodic pattern with a periodicity index of 31. 8. Mathematical analysis of the data indicated that P. falciparum gametocytes tend to display periodicity with a peak (15:30-19:30 h) that do not coincide with the peak (00:30-03:30 h) biting activity of the local vector, Anopheles gambiae. We were thus able to show a P. falciparum gametocyte periodicity with a harmonic wave pattern, but its functional biological significance if any, is currently unknown.

AB - The circadian periodicity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in peripheral blood was analysed in a group of children from an holoendemic community of north-eastern Tanzania. No periodicity was observed with asexual stage parasites. Gametocytes were shown to display a diurnal subperiodic pattern with a periodicity index of 31. 8. Mathematical analysis of the data indicated that P. falciparum gametocytes tend to display periodicity with a peak (15:30-19:30 h) that do not coincide with the peak (00:30-03:30 h) biting activity of the local vector, Anopheles gambiae. We were thus able to show a P. falciparum gametocyte periodicity with a harmonic wave pattern, but its functional biological significance if any, is currently unknown.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 10974164

SN - 0001-706X

VL - 76

SP - 239

EP - 246

JO - Acta Tropica

JF - Acta Tropica

IS - 3

ER -