Figure 2From: Optimally timing primaquine treatment to reduce Plasmodium falciparum transmission in low endemicity Thai-Myanmar border populationsSchematic illustration of the model for gametocytogenesis process. An asexual parasite produces 16 new parasites at every erythrocytic schizogony cycle. A proportion of these asexual parasites convert to immature gametocytes that appear in the peripheral blood for a day before sequestrating on the blood vessel. The gametocytes become visible again when the maturation process is completed. A combination of schizonticidal and gametocidal treatment affects the gametocyte production process by eliminating the asexual parasites and the mature gametocytes.Back to article page