Plasmodium malariae infection boosts Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte production

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2002 Oct;67(4):411-4. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2002.67.411.

Abstract

We analyzed records of malaria therapy patients sequentially or simultaneously inoculated with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae. Gametocyte production was enhanced in P. falciparum by prior or concurrent P. malariae infection but diminished or unaffected in P. malariae by P. falciparum. Conversely, asexual-form production was diminished in P. malariae but unaffected in P. falciparum.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culicidae / parasitology
  • Gametogenesis*
  • Humans
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Malaria / parasitology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification
  • Plasmodium falciparum / physiology*
  • Plasmodium malariae / isolation & purification*
  • Reproduction, Asexual