Antibody Production in Human Malaria as Determined by the Fluorescent Antibody Technique

Abstract

No reliable serological test has been available in the past to follow the course of antibody production in malarial infections. The indirect method of immunofluorescence was utilized in this investigation to study antibody response to sporozoite-induced Plasmodium vivax infections in two human volunteers. Malarial antibody was demonstrated approximately 3 weeks after infection, and has persisted thus far for 121 days. These preliminary results suggest that this method of serological testing is specific and provides a sensitive means of titrating antibody produced in malarial infections.