Persistence of humoral response against sporozoite and blood-stage malaria antigens 7 years after a brief exposure to Plasmodium vivax

J Infect Dis. 1998 Apr;177(4):1132-5. doi: 10.1086/517412.

Abstract

The persistence of malarial antibodies was evaluated in subjects living in a rural community (in Minas Gerais State, Brazil) briefly exposed to a Plasmodium vivax malaria outbreak outside of the area in which malaria was endemic. Transmission was interrupted by treatment of all patients and their relatives and/or neighbors, although the latter had neither symptoms nor blood parasites. Antibodies to P. vivax antigens (recombinant proteins from sporozoites [rPvCS] and from blood stages [rPv200]) were measured in parallel by ELISA with sera collected at two time points after transmission. Anti-rPvCS IgG antibodies were positive in approximately 40% and 20% of the subjects 8 months and 7 years after exposure, respectively. Anti-rPv200 IgG was first detected in 61% of the subjects who had had malarial symptoms and remained positive in 47% after 7 years. Among the prophylactically treated group, anti-rPv200 IgG was detected in only 28% after 8 months. The levels of both antibodies decreased with time in all positive subjects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / analysis*
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Malaria, Vivax / blood
  • Malaria, Vivax / epidemiology
  • Malaria, Vivax / immunology*
  • Plasmodium vivax / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Recombinant Proteins