Antibody response against Plasmodium falciparum exoantigens and somatic antigens: a longitudinal survey in a rural community in Rondônia, western Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Three clinical and sero-epidemiological cross-sectional surveys involving 50 subjects were performed at six-month intervals in Urupá, a rural community characterized by unstable malaria transmission, situated in Rondônia State, Western Brazilian Amazon. Between the surveys, a clinically and parasitologically passive surveillance was established in this community and 48 malaria attacks (28 due to Plasmodium falciparum and 20 due to Plasmodium vivax) were recorded in this cohort of 50 subjects. Serum samples were collected at each survey and tested by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for IgG, IgG subclass and IgM antibodies against P. falciparum exoantigens isolated from culture supernatants and detergent-soluble somatic antigens. As expected, both anti-malarial IgG and IgM antibody titres were shown to rise after a malaria outbreak observed during the follow-up period. Nevertheless, in marked contrast with the profile of anti-malarial IgG subclasses described for semi-immune Africans, in this Amazonian community IgG2 antibodies (that are non-cytophilic) against both antigens were shown to predominate over other IgG subclasses. Such overall predominance of IgG2 subclass titres was statistically significant concerning exoantigens, but was of borderline significance in relation to IgG1 antibodies against somatic antigens (p = 0.052). Moreover, highly variable patterns of boosting were observed in antibody responses against both antigens among the patients who suffered P. falciparum malaria attack during the study.