Table 1.

Comparison of gametocytogenesis in the four most commonly studied human and rodent Plasmodium species (29, 81)

	Human parasites		Rodent parasites
	P. falciparum	P. vivax	P. berghei/P. yoelii
Liver stage
Maturation time	144–168h	192 h	50 h
Erythrocytic stage
Maturation time	48 h	48 h	24 h
Gametocytogenesis
Maturation time	10–12 days	48 h	24 h
Morphology	Five stages defined by distinct shape changes (Figure 1) I. Spherical II. Half moon III. Spindle with blunt ends IV. Spindle with pointed ends V. Falciform (sickle shaped)	Maintain spherical shape as they grow
Location	Stages I–IV sequester; stage V circulates in peripheral blood	Circulate in peripheral blood
Mosquito stage
Maturation time	Gametogenesis, <5 min; exflagellation, ~ 10–30 min; fertilization, <1 h; ookinete formation, ~24 h; sporozoite production in oocysts, 10–12 days