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.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Ubwari Field Station, PO Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania. smagesa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Magesa
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Mdira
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Akida
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Bygbjerg
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007303:Insect Vectors; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018512:Parasitemia; D010507:Periodicity; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D013636:Tanzania; D013997:Time Factors