Maintaining Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte infectivity during blood collection and transport for mosquito feeding assays in the field

Table 1 Effect of gametocyte blood meal storage on infectivity to mosquitoes

Thermos water temperature	Thermos storage temperature	Total number of mosquitoes evaluated per condition (controls)	Number of experiments with a significant reduction in infectivity after 4 h storage
37.8 °C	RT	110 (110)	2/3
	32 °C	120 (120)	1/3
	42 °C	150 (150)	3/4
37 °C	RT	180 (178)	0/3
	32 °C	140 (140)	1/3
	42 °C	180 (180)	2/3
35.5 °C	RT	160 (160)	0/3
	32 °C	140 (140)	0/3
	42 °C	200 (200)	2/4

Mosquito infection rate (intensity of oocyst infection) was compared when a gametocyte infected blood meal was fed to mosquitoes immediately or stored in a thermos flask for 4 h at a range of temperatures. A total of 30–60 mosquitoes in 2 or 3 cups were used for each experimental condition and each experiment was repeated 3 to 4 times. Groups were compared by Kruskal–Wallis comparing each experimental condition to its own control with Dunns multiple comparison test. Graphs showing the full results of the experiments are presented in Fig. 2

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