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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination
Published on: July 4, 2007
Comparative analysis of glass and Hemotek membrane feeding systems for malaria transmission research
Wouter Graumans1, Michelle Schinkel2, Geert-Jan van Gemert1
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands.
Background:
Glass membrane feeders are used in malaria research for artificial blood feeding. This study investigates the use of Hemotek membrane feeders as a standardized alternative feeding system.
Methods:
Hemotek feeders were compared with glass feeders by assessing mosquito feeding rate, imbibed blood meal volume and Plasmodium falciparum infection intensity on mosquito guts.
Results:
While mosquito feeding rate and blood meal volume were comparable between Hemotek and glass feeders, a loss in transmission was observed using the Hemotek feeder with a conventional collagen membrane. There was no difference in transmission between both feeders when Parafilm was used as the membrane.
Conclusions:
Hemotek feeders with a Parafilm membrane can be used as an alternative feeding system for malaria transmission research.
