Figure 1. Mosquito feeding assays.

In direct skin feeding assays, mosquitoes are placed directly on the skin of a parasitaemic host. In direct membrane feeding assays, a venous or finger prick blood sample from a naturally infected individual is offered to mosquitoes. Water-jacketed glass feeders are kept at approximately 37°C and mosquitoes feed through a membrane. In a whole blood assay, the blood sample is offered to mosquitoes directly. In a serum replacement experiment, the blood cells are offered to mosquitoes in a paired experiment in the presence of own plasma or of control serum.