Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern Zambia
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In formerly endemic areas where malaria transmission has declined, levels of population immunity to <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>provide information on continued malaria transmission and potentially susceptible populati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-06-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/10/1/162 |
| _version_ | 1811247054639333376 |
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| author | Mharakurwa Sungano Hamapumbu Harry Kobayashi Tamaki Chishimba Sandra Chidi Alexis P Thuma Philip E Moss William J |
| author_facet | Mharakurwa Sungano Hamapumbu Harry Kobayashi Tamaki Chishimba Sandra Chidi Alexis P Thuma Philip E Moss William J |
| author_sort | Mharakurwa Sungano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In formerly endemic areas where malaria transmission has declined, levels of population immunity to <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>provide information on continued malaria transmission and potentially susceptible populations. Traditional techniques for measuring serological responses to <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens use plasma or dried blood spots (DBS). These invasive procedures pose a biohazard and may be unacceptable to communities if performed frequently. The use of oral fluid (OF) samples to detect antibodies to <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens may be a more acceptable strategy to monitor changes in population immunity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An enzyme immunoassay was optimized to detect antibodies to whole, asexual stage <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens. Optical density (OD) values from paired DBS and OF samples collected as part of a community-based survey of malaria parasitaemia were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Oral fluid and dried blood spot samples were collected from 53 participants in Southern Province, Zambia. Their ages ranged from 1 to 80 years and 45% were female. A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.79; P < 0.01) was observed between OD values from OF and DBS samples. The OF assay identified all DBS-confirmed positive and negative samples, resulting in 100% sensitivity and specificity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Oral fluid is a valid alternative specimen for monitoring changes in antibodies to <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens. As OF collection is often more acceptable to communities, poses less of a biohazard than blood samples and can be performed by community volunteers, serological surveys using OF samples provide a strategy for monitoring population immunity in regions of declining malaria transmission.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:03:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de4e815bb83f4af1957faac2437f8f28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:03:46Z |
| publishDate | 2011-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-de4e815bb83f4af1957faac2437f8f282022-12-22T03:28:01ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752011-06-0110116210.1186/1475-2875-10-162Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern ZambiaMharakurwa SunganoHamapumbu HarryKobayashi TamakiChishimba SandraChidi Alexis PThuma Philip EMoss William J<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In formerly endemic areas where malaria transmission has declined, levels of population immunity to <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>provide information on continued malaria transmission and potentially susceptible populations. Traditional techniques for measuring serological responses to <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens use plasma or dried blood spots (DBS). These invasive procedures pose a biohazard and may be unacceptable to communities if performed frequently. The use of oral fluid (OF) samples to detect antibodies to <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens may be a more acceptable strategy to monitor changes in population immunity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An enzyme immunoassay was optimized to detect antibodies to whole, asexual stage <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens. Optical density (OD) values from paired DBS and OF samples collected as part of a community-based survey of malaria parasitaemia were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Oral fluid and dried blood spot samples were collected from 53 participants in Southern Province, Zambia. Their ages ranged from 1 to 80 years and 45% were female. A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.79; P < 0.01) was observed between OD values from OF and DBS samples. The OF assay identified all DBS-confirmed positive and negative samples, resulting in 100% sensitivity and specificity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Oral fluid is a valid alternative specimen for monitoring changes in antibodies to <it>P. falciparum </it>antigens. As OF collection is often more acceptable to communities, poses less of a biohazard than blood samples and can be performed by community volunteers, serological surveys using OF samples provide a strategy for monitoring population immunity in regions of declining malaria transmission.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/10/1/162 |
| spellingShingle | Mharakurwa Sungano Hamapumbu Harry Kobayashi Tamaki Chishimba Sandra Chidi Alexis P Thuma Philip E Moss William J Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern Zambia Malaria Journal |
| title | Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern Zambia |
| title_full | Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern Zambia |
| title_fullStr | Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern Zambia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern Zambia |
| title_short | Validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>: An observational study in southern Zambia |
| title_sort | validation of oral fluid samples to monitor serological changes to it plasmodium falciparum it an observational study in southern zambia |
| url | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/10/1/162 |
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