Heritability of the human infectious reservoir of malaria parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies on human genetic factors associated with malaria have hitherto concentrated on their role in susceptibility to and protection from disease. In contrast, virtually no attention has been paid to the role of human genetics in eliciting the production of parasite transmission stages, the gametocytes, and thus enhancing the spread of disease.

Methods and findings

We analysed four longitudinal family-based cohort studies from Senegal and Thailand followed for 2-8 years and evaluated the relative impact of the human genetic and non-genetic factors on gametocyte production in infections of Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax. Prevalence and density of gametocyte carriage were evaluated in asymptomatic and symptomatic infections by examination of Giemsa-stained blood

SUBMITTER: Lawaly YR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2894056 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature