Figure 5: P. falciparum gametocyte culture and oocyst visualization on infected mosquito midgut.

(A) Time course of 15 day gametocyte culture, showing steep multiplication of asexual stages to peak parasitemia within first 4 days, followed by gametocytogenesis and maturation over time. (B) Geimsa-stained thin blood smear showing various stages of gametocyte culture, day 1 early asexual stage, day 4 peak asexual parasitemia, day 6 stressed culture due to high parasite load, days 9 & 12 early gametocytes and day 15 showing mature male and female gametocytes. Morphologically early stage gametocytes were indistinguishable from asexual stages, but late stage II showed the crescent shape with pointed ends and elongated as parasite developed into stage III and IV. Mature stage V gametocytes, however, was characterized by classic crescent shape with rounded ends and minimal host cell visibility¹⁴. Scale bar = 10 mm