Development of immunity against Plasmodium falciparum malaria: clinical and parasitologic immunity cannot be separated
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
A total of 1622 individuals of all ages living under conditions of continuous malarial transmission in Liberia were enrolled in a cross-sectional study of parasite rates, positive parasite densities, and body temperatures. The age-specific Plasmodium falciparum-positive parasite densities were greatest at ages 0.5-1.0 year, then slowly declined into adulthood. The age-specific mean body temperature at parasite isodensity showed a steady decline even in the oldest age group. The results do not support the hypothesis that adults have higher body temperatures at a given parasite density than do children with the same parasite density. The age-specific P. falciparum parasite density for specific isotemperatures showed that a subgroup of children in the age group 0.5-1.0 year had low temperatures (less than 36.5 degrees C) despite high parasite densities. This indicates that low body temperature should be investigated further as a possible indicator of serious malaria in young children. Parasitologic and clinical immunity develops concomitantly and cannot be separated. The findings do not support the hypothesis that a special "anti-disease" immunity exists independently of parasitologic immunity.
Original language | English |
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Journal | The Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 164 |
Issue number | 5 |
Pages (from-to) | 949-53 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 0022-1899 |
Publication status | Published - Nov 1991 |
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Animals, Body Temperature, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Falciparum/immunology, Male, Plasmodium falciparum/growth & development, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/immunology
Research areas
ID: 203012059