{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T07:33:52Z","timestamp":1787729632951,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751414400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751414400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"DELTAS Africa grant","award":["DEL-15-007"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["DEL-15-007"]}]},{"name":"University of Ghana Office of Research and Innovation and Development","award":["UGFD\/11\/2016-2017\/002"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UGFD\/11\/2016-2017\/002"]}]},{"name":"World Bank African Centres of Excellence grant","award":["WACCBIP+NCDs"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["WACCBIP+NCDs"]}]},{"name":"National Institute of Health","award":["R01 A1123074"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["R01 A1123074"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n          <jats:p>Asymptomatic carriage of malaria parasite is a major public health issue in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa. These infections are mostly sub-microscopic and not detected by routine malaria screening methods. Asymptomatic malaria infection carriers serve as an infectious reservoir for malaria transmission. This study assessed the infectivity of asymptomatic children to <jats:italic>Anopheles gambiae<\/jats:italic> mosquitoes in a high transmission area in Ghana. Ninety-eight (98) healthy children were screened for malaria parasites by microscopy and PCR. Sub-microscopic gametocytes carriage was also determined using RT-PCR. Blood samples from asymptomatic parasite carriers were used in membrane feeding assays of laboratory colonies of <jats:italic>An. gambiae<\/jats:italic> mosquitoes. Infectivity was assessed by dissection of mosquito midguts and the mosquito infection rate and oocyst densities were recorded. The total participants that were asymptomatic for malaria was 73\/98 (74.49%). Malaria parasite prevalence was 13.7% by microscopy and 78.08% by PCR. Sub-microscopic infections accounted for 64.38% (47\/73) of the asymptomatic parasite carriers. No gametocytes were detected, however, the <jats:italic>Pf<\/jats:italic>g377 gene was observed in 33.33% (19\/57) of the asymptomatic parasite carriers. Blood from 4 out of 19 asymptomatic carriers, associated with carriage of sub-microscopic gametocytes, were found to be infectious to the <jats:italic>An. gambiae<\/jats:italic> mosquitoes. The average oocyst density observed was 0.01, with an overall mosquito infection rate of 0.07. This data will be helpful in improving current malaria control efforts in Ghana.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-06844-7","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]],"date-time":"2025-07-01T23:21:12Z","timestamp":1751412072000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Assessment of the infectivity of malaria parasites from asymptomatic school children to Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes in a high transmission area in Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Mawusi Adepa","family":"Mawuli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Linda Eva","family":"Amoah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Isaac Kwame","family":"Sraku","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dickson","family":"Donu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hamza B.","family":"Abagna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Festus K.","family":"Acquah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Neils Ben","family":"Quashie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yaw Asare","family":"Afrane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"6844_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jiv370","volume":"213","author":"A Lin Ou\u00e9draogo","year":"2015","unstructured":"Lin Ou\u00e9draogo, A. et al. Dynamics of the human infectious reservoir for malaria determined by mosquito feeding assays and ultrasensitive malaria diagnosis in Burkina Faso. J. Infect. Dis. 213, 90\u201399. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/infdis\/jiv370 (2015).","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"6844_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"561","DOI":"10.1007\/s44197-024-00228-2","volume":"14","author":"J Li","year":"2024","unstructured":"Li, J., Docile, H. J., Fisher, D., Pronyuk, K. & Zhao, L. Current status of malaria control and elimination in Africa: Epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, progress and challenges. J. Epidemiol. Glob. Health 14, 561\u2013579. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s44197-024-00228-2 (2024).","journal-title":"J. Epidemiol. Global Health"},{"key":"6844_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-11-29","volume":"11","author":"DD Laishram","year":"2012","unstructured":"Laishram, D. D. et al. The complexities of malaria disease manifestations with a focus on asymptomatic malaria. Malar. J. 11, 29. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1475-2875-11-29 (2012).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-018-2476-1","volume":"17","author":"J Sattabongkot","year":"2018","unstructured":"Sattabongkot, J. et al. Prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium infections with sub-microscopic parasite densities in the northwestern border of Thailand: A potential threat to malaria elimination. Malar. J. 17, 329. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12936-018-2476-1 (2018).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0006148","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0006148","volume":"11","author":"M Iwagami","year":"2017","unstructured":"Iwagami, M. et al. The detection of cryptic Plasmodium infection among villagers in Attapeu province, Lao PDR. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 11, e0006148\u2013e0006148. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0006148 (2017).","journal-title":"PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis."},{"key":"6844_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-017-2130-3","volume":"16","author":"STT Tun","year":"2017","unstructured":"Tun, S. T. T. et al. Towards malaria elimination in Savannakhet, Lao PDR: Mathematical modelling driven strategy design. Malar. J. 16, 483\u2013483. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12936-017-2130-3 (2017).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1622","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7986-4","volume":"19","author":"IC Ndong","year":"2019","unstructured":"Ndong, I. C. et al. Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia following mass testing and treatment in Pakro sub-district of Ghana. BMC Public. Health. 19, 1622. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12889-019-7986-4 (2019).","journal-title":"BMC Public. Health"},{"key":"6844_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0199172","author":"R Ayanful-Torgby","year":"2018","unstructured":"Ayanful-Torgby, R., Quashie, N. B., Boampong, J. N., Williamson, K. C. & Amoah, L. E. Seasonal variations in Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence assessed by varying diagnostic tests in asymptomatic children in southern Ghana. PLoS One. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0199172 (2018).","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"Suppl 1","key":"6844_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1016\/s0035-9203(99)90329-2","volume":"93","author":"T Smith","year":"1999","unstructured":"Smith, T., Felger, I., Tanner, M. & Beck, H. P. Premunition in Plasmodium falciparum infection: Insights from the epidemiology of multiple infections. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 93 (Suppl 1), 59\u201364. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0035-9203(99)90329-2 (1999).","journal-title":"Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1264","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jix442","volume":"216","author":"E Essuman","year":"2017","unstructured":"Essuman, E. et al. A novel gametocyte biomarker for superior molecular detection of the Plasmodium falciparum infectious reservoirs. J. Infect. Dis. 216, 1264\u20131272. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/infdis\/jix442 (2017).","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"6844_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1016\/0035-9203(92)90216-y","volume":"86","author":"AK Githeko","year":"1992","unstructured":"Githeko, A. K. et al. The reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a holoendemic area of western Kenya. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 86, 355\u2013358. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0035-9203(92)90216-y (1992).","journal-title":"Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1586\/eri.13.45","volume":"11","author":"KA Lindblade","year":"2013","unstructured":"Lindblade, K. A., Steinhardt, L., Samuels, A., Kachur, S. P. & Slutsker, L. The silent threat: Asymptomatic parasitemia and malaria transmission. Expert Rev. Anti Infect. Ther. 11, 623\u2013639. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1586\/eri.13.45 (2013).","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Anti-infective Therapy"},{"key":"6844_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1237","DOI":"10.1038\/ncomms2241","volume":"3","author":"LC Okell","year":"2012","unstructured":"Okell, L. C. et al. Factors determining the occurrence of submicroscopic malaria infections and their relevance for control. Nat. Commun. 3, 1237. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/ncomms2241 (2012).","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"6844_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-3-18","volume":"3","author":"JT Bousema","year":"2004","unstructured":"Bousema, J. T. et al. Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage in asymptomatic children in western Kenya. Malar. J. 3, 18. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1475-2875-3-18 (2004).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Koepfli, C. et al. Blood-stage parasitaemia and age determine Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax gametocytaemia in Papua New Guinea. PLoS One. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0126747 (2015).","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0126747"},{"key":"6844_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-13-433","volume":"13","author":"F Mwingira","year":"2014","unstructured":"Mwingira, F., Genton, B., Kabanywanyi, A. N. M. & Felger, I. Comparison of detection methods to estimate asexual Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence and gametocyte carriage in a community survey in Tanzania. Malar. J. 13, 433. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1475-2875-13-433 (2014).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jiv370","volume":"213","author":"AL Ou\u00e9draogo","year":"2016","unstructured":"Ou\u00e9draogo, A. L. et al. Dynamics of the human infectious reservoir for malaria determined by mosquito feeding assays and ultrasensitive malaria diagnosis in Burkina Faso. J. Infect. Dis. 213, 90\u201399. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/infdis\/jiv370 (2016).","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"6844_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-110518\/v1","author":"A Ahmad","year":"2020","unstructured":"Ahmad, A. et al. Gametocyte carriage after seasonal malaria chemoprevention in Plasmodium falciparum infected asymptomatic children. Malar. J. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21203\/rs.3.rs-110518\/v1 (2020).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-019-2895-7","volume":"18","author":"LE Amoah","year":"2019","unstructured":"Amoah, L. E., Abagna, H. B., Ayanful-Torgby, R., Blankson, S. O. & Aryee, N. A. Diversity and immune responses against Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in non-febrile school children living in Southern Ghana. Malar. J. 18, 265. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12936-019-2895-7 (2019).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e8410","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0008410","volume":"4","author":"AL Ou\u00e9draogo","year":"2009","unstructured":"Ou\u00e9draogo, A. L. et al. Substantial contribution of submicroscopical Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage to the infectious reservoir in an area of seasonal transmission. PLoS One 4, e8410. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0008410 (2009).","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"6844_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.55.2.369-372.1987","volume":"55","author":"KN Mendis","year":"1987","unstructured":"Mendis, K. N., Munesinghe, Y. D., de Silva, Y. N., Keragalla, I. & Carter, R. Malaria transmission-blocking immunity induced by natural infections of Plasmodium vivax in humans. Infect. Immun. 55, 369\u2013372. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/iai.55.2.369-372.1987 (1987).","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"6844_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1016\/0166-6851(84)90124-5","volume":"13","author":"N Kumar","year":"1984","unstructured":"Kumar, N. & Carter, R. Biosynthesis of the target antigens of antibodies blocking transmission of Plasmodium falciparum. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 13, 333\u2013342. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0166-6851(84)90124-5 (1984).","journal-title":"Mol. Biochem. Parasitol."},{"key":"6844_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2015.03.007","volume":"71","author":"S Jones","year":"2015","unstructured":"Jones, S. et al. Naturally acquired antibody responses to recombinant Pfs230 and Pfs48\/45 transmission blocking vaccine candidates. J. Infect. 71, 117\u2013127. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jinf.2015.03.007 (2015).","journal-title":"J. Infect."},{"key":"6844_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2010.09.008","volume":"41","author":"Bousema","year":"2011","unstructured":"Bousema et al. Human immune responses that reduce the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum in African populations. Int. J. Parasitol. 41, 293\u2013300. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpara.2010.09.008 (2011).","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol."},{"key":"6844_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.2174\/156652406776055140","volume":"6","author":"CJ Bousema, Drakeley","year":"2006","unstructured":"Bousema, Drakeley, C. J. & Sauerwein, R. W. Sexual-stage antibody responses to P. falciparum in endemic populations. Curr. Mol. Med. 6, 223\u2013229. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2174\/156652406776055140 (2006).","journal-title":"Curr. Mol. Med."},{"key":"6844_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3017","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.65.8.3017-3023.1997","volume":"65","author":"J Healer","year":"1997","unstructured":"Healer, J. et al. Complement-mediated lysis of Plasmodium falciparum gametes by malaria-immune human sera is associated with antibodies to the gamete surface antigen Pfs230. Infect. Immun. 65, 3017\u20133023 (1997).","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"6844_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2002.67.411","volume":"67","author":"FE McKenzie","year":"2002","unstructured":"McKenzie, F. E., Jeffery, G. M. & Collins, W. E. Plasmodium malariae infection boosts Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte production. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 67, 411\u2013414. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.2002.67.411 (2002).","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2775","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0002775","volume":"3","author":"MC Bruce","year":"2008","unstructured":"Bruce, M. C. et al. Effect of transmission setting and mixed species infections on clinical measures of malaria in Malawi. PLoS One 3, e2775. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0002775 (2008).","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"6844_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1999.61.367","volume":"61","author":"DP Mason","year":"1999","unstructured":"Mason, D. P. & McKenzie, F. E. Blood-stage dynamics and clinical implications of mixed Plasmodium vivax-Plasmodium falciparum infections. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 61, 367\u2013374. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.1999.61.367 (1999).","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-12-113","volume":"12","author":"P Obare","year":"2013","unstructured":"Obare, P. et al. Misclassification of Plasmodium infections by conventional microscopy and the impact of remedial training on the proficiency of laboratory technicians in species identification. Malar. J. 12, 113. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1475-2875-12-113 (2013).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bousema et al. Increased Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte production in mixed infections with P. malariae. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 78(3), 442\u2013448 (2008).","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2008.78.442"},{"key":"6844_CR32","first-page":"65","volume":"59","author":"A Arez","year":"1997","unstructured":"Arez, A. et al. Transmission of mixed malaria species and strains by mosquitoes, as detected by PCR, in a study area in Guinea-Bissau. Parassitologia 59, 65\u201370 (1997).","journal-title":"Parassitologia"},{"key":"6844_CR33","unstructured":"Ou\u00e9draogo et al. A protocol for membrane feeding assays to determine the infectiousness of P. falciparum naturally infected individuals to Anopheles gambiae. Malaria World Journal 4 (2013)."},{"key":"6844_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"McCaffery, J. N. et al. A multi-stage Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine candidate able to induce long-lived antibody responses against blood stage parasites and robust transmission-blocking activity. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcimb.2019.00135 (2019).","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2019.00135"},{"key":"6844_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1017","DOI":"10.1080\/14760584.2019.1674145","volume":"18","author":"K Miura","year":"2019","unstructured":"Miura, K. et al. Malaria transmission-blocking vaccines: Wheat germ cell-free technology can accelerate vaccine development. Expert Rev. Vaccines 18, 1017\u20131027. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14760584.2019.1674145 (2019).","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Vaccines"},{"key":"6844_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1007034","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.ppat.1007034","volume":"14","author":"AL Ou\u00e9draogo","year":"2018","unstructured":"Ou\u00e9draogo, A. L. et al. Modeling the impact of Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage immunity on the composition and dynamics of the human infectious reservoir for malaria in natural settings. PLoS Pathog. 14, e1007034. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.ppat.1007034 (2018).","journal-title":"PLoS Pathog."},{"key":"6844_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"558","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-017-02646-2","volume":"9","author":"WJR Stone","year":"2018","unstructured":"Stone, W. J. R. et al. Unravelling the immune signature of Plasmodium falciparum transmission-reducing immunity. Nat. Commun. 9, 558\u2013558. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-017-02646-2 (2018).","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"6844_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-017-2607-5","volume":"11","author":"LE Amoah","year":"2018","unstructured":"Amoah, L. E. et al. Dynamics of anti-MSP3 and Pfs230 antibody responses and multiplicity of infection in asymptomatic children from southern Ghana. Parasites Vectors. 11, 13. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13071-017-2607-5 (2018).","journal-title":"Parasites Vectors"},{"key":"6844_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"700","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1993.48.700","volume":"48","author":"C Boudin","year":"1993","unstructured":"Boudin, C., Olivier, M., Molez, J. F., Chiron, J. P. & Ambroise-Thomas, P. High human malarial infectivity to laboratory-bred Anopheles gambiae in a village in Burkina Faso. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 48, 700\u2013706. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.1993.48.700 (1993).","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"470","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2007.76.470","volume":"76","author":"P Schneider","year":"2007","unstructured":"Schneider, P. et al. Submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte densities frequently result in mosquito infection. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 76, 470\u2013474 (2007).","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jit431","author":"KB Beshir","year":"2013","unstructured":"Beshir, K. B. et al. Residual Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia in Kenyan children after artemisinin-combination therapy is associated with increased transmission to mosquitoes and parasite recurrence. J. Infect. Dis. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/infdis\/jit431 (2013).","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"6844_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1561","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jiy060","volume":"217","author":"A Vantaux","year":"2018","unstructured":"Vantaux, A. et al. Contribution to malaria transmission of symptomatic and asymptomatic parasite carriers in Cambodia. J. Infect. Dis. 217, 1561\u20131568. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/infdis\/jiy060 (2018).","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"6844_CR43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2818","DOI":"10.1128\/IAI.56.11.2818-2821.1988","volume":"56","author":"PM Graves","year":"1988","unstructured":"Graves, P. M. et al. Naturally occurring antibodies to an epitope on Plasmodium falciparum gametes detected by monoclonal antibody-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Infect. Immun. 56, 2818\u20132821. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/IAI.56.11.2818-2821.1988 (1988).","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"6844_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-017-1827-7","volume":"16","author":"T Gebru","year":"2017","unstructured":"Gebru, T. et al. Recognition of Plasmodium falciparum mature gametocyte-infected erythrocytes by antibodies of semi-immune adults and malaria-exposed children from Gabon. Malar. J. 16, 176. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12936-017-1827-7 (2017).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molbiopara.2006.05.015","volume":"149","author":"BCL van Schaijk","year":"2006","unstructured":"van Schaijk, B. C. L. et al. Pfs47, paralog of the male fertility factor Pfs48\/45, is a female specific surface protein in Plasmodium falciparum. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 149, 216\u2013222. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.molbiopara.2006.05.015 (2006).","journal-title":"Mol. Biochem. Parasitol."},{"key":"6844_CR46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3834","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.65.9.3834-3837.1997","volume":"65","author":"A Lensen","year":"1997","unstructured":"Lensen, A., Bolmer-Van de Vegte, M., Van Gemert, G., Eling, W. & Sauerwein, R. Leukocytes in a Plasmodium falciparum-infected blood meal reduce transmission of malaria to Anopheles mosquitoes. Infect. Immun. 65, 3834\u20133837 (1997).","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"6844_CR47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1006\/cimm.2001.1770","volume":"208","author":"MI Muniz-Junqueira","year":"2001","unstructured":"Muniz-Junqueira, M. I., dos Santos-Neto, L. L. & Tosta, C. E. Influence of tumor necrosis factor-\u03b1 on the ability of monocytes and lymphocytes to destroy intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Cell. Immunol. 208, 73\u201379 (2001).","journal-title":"Cell. Immunol."},{"key":"6844_CR48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"344","DOI":"10.1016\/0035-9203(76)90096-1","volume":"70","author":"Sinden","year":"1976","unstructured":"Sinden & Smalley, M. Gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum: Phagocytosis by leucocytes in vivo and in vitro. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 70, 344\u2013345. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0035-9203(76)90096-1 (1976).","journal-title":"Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16490","DOI":"10.1074\/jbc.M114.623165","volume":"290","author":"Zhang","year":"2015","unstructured":"Zhang et al. Anopheles midgut FREP1 mediates Plasmodium invasion. J. Biol. Chem. 290, 16490\u201316501. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1074\/jbc.M114.623165 (2015).","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"6844_CR50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20440","DOI":"10.1038\/srep20440","volume":"6","author":"M Eldering","year":"2016","unstructured":"Eldering, M. et al. Variation in susceptibility of African Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites to TEP1 mediated killing in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Sci. Rep. 6, 20440\u201320440. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/srep20440 (2016).","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"6844_CR51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.00051-10","volume":"24","author":"Bousema","year":"2011","unstructured":"Bousema & Drakeley, C. Epidemiology and infectivity of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax gametocytes in relation to malaria control and elimination. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 24, 377\u2013410. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1128\/CMR.00051-10 (2011).","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"6844_CR52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-3024.1987.tb00511.x","volume":"9","author":"N Kumar","year":"1987","unstructured":"Kumar, N. Target antigens of malaria transmission blocking immunity exist as a stable membrane bound complex. Parasite Immunol. 9, 321\u2013335. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1365-3024.1987.tb00511.x (1987).","journal-title":"Parasite Immunol."},{"key":"6844_CR53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1091","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2006.05.004","volume":"36","author":"M van der Kolk","year":"2006","unstructured":"van der Kolk, M., de Vlas, S. J. & Sauerwein, R. W. Reduction and enhancement of Plasmodium falciparum transmission by endemic human sera. Int. J. Parasitol. 36, 1091\u20131095. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpara.2006.05.004 (2006).","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol."},{"key":"6844_CR54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-020-03299-1","volume":"19","author":"FK Acquah","year":"2020","unstructured":"Acquah, F. K. et al. Asymptomatic carriage of Plasmodium falciparum by individuals with variant blood groups and haemoglobin genotypes in southern Ghana. Malar. J. 19, 217. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12936-020-03299-1 (2020).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-7-248","volume":"7","author":"M Diallo","year":"2008","unstructured":"Diallo, M. et al. Evaluation and optimization of membrane feeding compared to direct feeding as an assay for infectivity. Malar. J. 7, 248. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1475-2875-7-248 (2008).","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"6844_CR56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Das, Garver, L. & Dimopoulos, G. Protocol for mosquito rearing (A. gambiae). J. Vis. Exp.. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3791\/221 (2007).","DOI":"10.3791\/221"},{"key":"6844_CR57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1999.60.687","volume":"60","author":"B Singh","year":"1999","unstructured":"Singh, B. et al. A genus- and species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction malaria detection assay for epidemiologic studies. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 60, 687\u2013692. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.1999.60.687 (1999).","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"6844_CR58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1016\/S0166-6851(00)00314-5","volume":"111","author":"M Menegon","year":"2000","unstructured":"Menegon, M. et al. Genotyping of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 111, 153\u2013161. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S0166-6851(00)00314-5 (2000).","journal-title":"Mol. Biochem. Parasitol."},{"key":"6844_CR59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-017-1955-0","volume":"16","author":"FK Acquah","year":"2017","unstructured":"Acquah, F. K. et al. Antibody responses to two new Lactococcus lactis-produced recombinant Pfs48\/45 and Pfs230 proteins increase with age in malaria patients living in the Central Region of Ghana. Malar. J. 16, 306. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12936-017-1955-0 (2017).","journal-title":"Malar. J."}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-025-06844-7.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-025-06844-7","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-025-06844-7.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]],"date-time":"2025-07-01T23:21:13Z","timestamp":1751412073000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-025-06844-7"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["6844"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-025-06844-7","relation":{},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2045-2322","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]]},"assertion":[{"value":"20 February 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"11 June 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"2 July 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}},{"value":"The study was done in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) [protocol number: NMIMR-IRB CPD 084\/16-17] as well as the Ghana Health Service (GHS) [protocol number: GHSERC-Admin\/App\/Ren\/700\/18\/266].). Written informed consent was sought from adult participants, parents\/guardians of minors as well as assent from minors.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethical approval"}}],"article-number":"22561"}}