biostudies-literatureMulamba CEuropean & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)54https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11846475biostudies-literatureUnknown24(1)<h4>Background</h4>Malaria transmission depends on the presence of gametocytes in the peripheral blood of infected human hosts. Understanding malaria infectious reservoirs enables transmission-blocking interventions to target the most important hosts for the disease. This study characterized the distribution of gametocyte carriage as a baseline for the clinical evaluation of a Pfs25-based transmission-blocking vaccine candidate in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.<h4>Methods</h4>A malaria survey was conducted in five locations from May to August 2022. A total of 467 participants-192 children (5-12 years), 65 adolescents (13-17 years) and 210 adults (18-45 years)-were enrolled. Malaria was detected using three methods: rapid diagnostic tests, light microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. TMalaria journalPlasmodium falciparum gametocyte burden in a Tanzanian heterogeneous transmission setting.PMC11846475RIA2016V-1649Lazaro LOKreppel KMulamba COdufuwa OGOlotu AIKweyamba PAWilliams CLChabo MSKamage JJfalsePlasmodium falciparum gametocyte burden in a Tanzanian heterogeneous transmission setting.<h4>Background</h4>Malaria transmission depends on the presence of gametocytes in the peripheral blood of infected human hosts. Understanding malaria infectious reservoirs enables transmission-blocking interventions to target the most important hosts for the disease. This study characterized the distribution of gametocyte carriage as a baseline for the clinical evaluation of a Pfs25-based transmission-blocking vaccine candidate in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.<h4>Methods</h4>A malaria survey was conducted in five locations from May to August 2022. A total of 467 participants-192 children (5-12 years), 65 adolescents (13-17 years) and 210 adults (18-45 years)-were enrolled. Malaria was detected using three methods: rapid diagnostic tests, light microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. T2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Feb2025-04-04T07:32:49.511Z2025-04-04T07:32:49.511ZS-EPMC118464753998500810.1186/s12936-025-05270-4