Rhesus macaques with clinically undetectable Plasmodium relapse infections still harbor parasitic gametocytes that may be infectious to mosquitoes, according to a study published September 19 in PLOS Pathogens by F. Eun-Hyung Lee and Mary R. Galinski of Emory University, Tracey J. Lamb of the University of Utah, and colleagues. The study has important epidemiological implications relevant to malaria elimination strategies.
Plasmodium cynomolgi gametocytes are shown filling two red blood cells.
These cells are taken up by mosquitoes to propagate the disease. Courtesy of Chet Joyner.