The extravascular compartment of the bone marrow: a niche for Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte maturation?

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Farfour Eric, Charlotte Frédéric, Settegrana Catherine, Miyara Makoto, Buffet Pierre
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012
• Subjects: Malaria; Transmission; Gametocyte; Bone marrow; Plasmodium falciparum; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-285; https://doaj.org/article/9844e4db628c430284b2341bd5833205

Abstract Background Plasmodium falciparum immature gametocytes accumulate in the bone marrow, but their exact location in this tissue remains unclear. Methods The stage and deposition pattern of gametocytes was analysed on histological sections of a bone marrow sample collected in a patient with subacute P. falciparum malaria. Results A majority (89%) of immature stages II to IV gametocytes and a minority (29%) of mature stage V gametocytes were observed in extravascular spaces. Discussion and conclusion These observations represent a valuable step towards understanding sequestration patterns of P. falciparum gametocytes and may ultimately lead to novel transmission-blocking interventions.