Figure 4

Time-to-PCR detection and parasite growth rates. Individuals were grouped according to the time at which parasites were first detected by PCR. The time between PCR detection and microscopy detection was measured, and PMR estimated, in order to compare parasite growth rates in early-detected versus late-detected groups. For children, neither the delay (A) nor the growth rate (B) was significantly different between early- and late-infected groups (timing of detection shown in E). For adults, there was a significantly shorter delay (C) and faster growth rate (D) in the late-infected group (timing of detection shown in F). Grey symbols in panels A–D and open circles in panels E and F indicate where parasites were not detected by microscopy before the end of the study. Note that the data in panels E and F is the same data as in Figure 2E and F, but sorted according to time-of-detection by PCR.