The temporal dynamics of Plasmodium density through the sporogonic cycle within Anopheles mosquitoes

Abstract

The impact of parasite density on malaria transmission remains unclear. We investigated sporogony temporal dynamics and the effect of parasite density on these dynamics. A series of experiments was conducted in which cages of mosquitoes were fed on blood containing a range of ookinete densities. Samples of surviving mosquitoes were dissected over time post-feeding to count oocyst and sporozoite numbers. Results reveal a humped (convex) pattern of oocyst numbers and suggest that transition rates between sporogony stages are density dependent. This has implications for the design of parasite-mosquito interface studies and the development of transmission-blocking strategies.