@article{fdi:010058180,
  title = {{M}easuring the blockade of malaria transmission : an analysis of the {S}tandard {M}embrane {F}eeding {A}ssay},
  author = {{C}hurcher, {T}. {S}. and {B}lagborough, {A}. {M}. and {D}elves, {M}. and {R}amakrishnan, {C}. and {K}apulu, {M}. {C}. and {W}illiams, {A}. {R}. and {B}iswas, {S}. and {D}a, {D}. {F}. and {C}ohuet, {A}nna and {S}inden, {R}. {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he standard membrane feeding assay ({SMFA}) is currently considered to be the 'gold standard' for assessing the effectiveness of malaria transmission blocking interventions ({TBI}s) in vivo. {T}he operation and analysis of {SMFA}s has varied between laboratories: field scientists often measure {TBI} efficacy as a reduction in the prevalence of infected mosquitoes whilst laboratory scientists are more likely to quote efficacy as a change in the number of oocysts within the mosquito. {T}hese metrics give outputs that differ widely, resulting in a need for greater understanding of how the {SMFA} informs {TBI} assessment. {U}sing data from 536 different assays (conducted on {P}lasmodium falciparum and {P}lasmodium berghei, in either {A}nopheles gambiae or {A}nopheles stephensi) it is shown that the relationship between these metrics is complex, yet predictable. {R}esults demonstrate that the distribution of oocysts between mosquitoes is highly aggregated, making efficacy estimates based on reductions in intensity highly uncertain. {A}nalysis of 30 {SMFA}s carried out on the same {TBI} confirms that the observed reduction in prevalence depends upon the parasite exposure (as measured by oocyst intensity in the control group), with assays which have lower exposure appearing more effective. {B}y contrast, if efficacy is estimated as a reduction in oocyst intensity, then this candidate demonstrated constant efficacy, irrespective of the exposure level. {T}o report transmission-blockade efficacy accurately, the results of {SMFA}s should give both the prevalence and intensity of oocysts in both the control and intervention group. {C}andidates should be assessed against a range of parasite exposures to allow laboratory results to be extrapolated to different field situations. {C}urrently, many studies assessing {TBI}s are underpowered and uncertainties in efficacy estimates rarely reported. {S}tatistical techniques that account for oocyst over-dispersion can reduce the number of mosquitoes that need to be dissected and allow {TBI} candidates from different laboratories to be accurately compared.},
  keywords = {{M}alaria ; {M}osquito ; {S}tandard {M}embrane {F}eeding {A}ssay ; {T}ransmission ; {P}lasmodium ; {O}ocyst},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {J}ournal for {P}arasitology},
  volume = {42},
  numero = {11},
  pages = {1037--1044},
  ISSN = {0020-7519},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.09.002},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010058180},
}