Applications of the indirect fluorescent antibody test in malaria

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Date
1976
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Sri Lanka (Colombo campus): UC(MED).
Abstract
Various methods have been employed in the epidemiological assessment of malaria. In recent years, new serological techniques have suppemented the measurement of spleen rate and parasite rate. Since clasical malariometric indices such as parasite rate and annual parasite incidence were insufficient and not adequately sensitive to assess the progress of control measures, serological methids have been employed. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) was the serological test employed in this laboratory. Thick blood films of simian malaria parasites, plasmidium cynomolgi bastianellii and p.fieldi, obtained from infected rhesuns monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were used as antigens. The IFA test was shown to be useful to study the antibody levlels of blood donors from different areas in Sri Lanka, to observe the production and persistence of malarial antibodies in man and rhesus monkeys and for epidemiological assessment of malaria in Sri Lanka. The study conducte on 1050 blood donors revealed that since Colombo and Kalutara were free of malaria transmission, blood donors from these two areas could be used. Donors from other areas should be subjected to a routine screening programme such as the IFA and the blood used with caution. The follow up of eight malaria patients for persistence of antibodies showed that the range of duration was between 6 weeks and 10 weeks. A similar study was conducted to find persistence of malarial antibodies in rhesus monkeys. It was found that when parasitaemia was high antibody titre was low and as parasitaemia declined antibody titre rose sharply. It persisted at this high level till antimalarial drugs were administered. After declining the low antibody titre persisted for 3-9 months in the four monkeys. It was possible to arrange the different areas sampled in order of endemicity. When changes in transmission were followed from 1974 to 1975 it was found that malaria transmission had gone up from October 1974 to May 1975 and declined in October 1975.
Description
Dissertation: M.Phil., University of Sri Lanka (Colombo campus): UC(MED), 1976.
Keywords
Malaria
Citation
SIVANESARAJAH, Y, Applications of the indirect fluorescent antibody test in malaria, University of Sri Lanka (Colombo campus) UC(MED), 1976: 138p.