Antibody response to Schistosoma haematobium and other helminth species in malaria-exposed populations from Burkina Faso.

Infection with helminths in sub-Saharan Africa could modulate the immune response towards Plasmodium falciparum as well as susceptibility to malaria infection and disease. The aim of this study is to assess the antibody responses to helminths species in malaria-exposed populations from Burkina Faso. Plasma samples were collected in rural villages inhabited by Fulani, Mossi and Rimaibe communities, and IgG against parasitic helminths were measured by ELISA.

The establishment of a WHO Reference Reagent for anti-malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) human serum.

Background: At a World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored meeting it was concluded that there is an urgent need for a reference preparation that contains antibodies against malaria antigens in order to support serology studies and vaccine development. It was proposed that this reference would take the form of a lyophilized serum or plasma pool from a malaria-endemic area. In response, an immunoassay standard, comprising defibrinated human plasma has been prepared and evaluated in a collaborative study.

The importance of accuracy in diagnosis of positive malaria cases in a country progressing towards malaria elimination.

Background: With Sri Lanka aiming towards malaria elimination by 2015, the National Anti Malaria Campaign has stressed on the importance of identification of the species of Plasmodium either by examination of stained blood smears for malaria parasites or by Rapid Diagnostic Tests for malaria antigens before the initiation of treatment. This study aims at confirmation of the accuracy of clinical and/or microscopical malaria diagnosis using serology.

Materials And Methods: Study population comprised 51 individuals diagnosed with malaria either microscopically or clinically during the first half of 2011.

Human candidate polymorphisms in sympatric ethnic groups differing in malaria susceptibility in Mali.

Malaria still remains a major public health problem in Mali, although disease susceptibility varies between ethnic groups, particularly between the Fulani and Dogon. These two sympatric groups share similar socio-cultural factors and malaria transmission rates, but Fulani individuals tend to show significantly higher spleen enlargement scores, lower parasite prevalence, and seem less affected by the disease than their Dogon neighbours. We have used genetic polymorphisms from malaria-associated genes to investigate associations with various malaria metrics between the Fulanai and Dogon groups.