The age-specific prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in migrants to Irian Jaya is not attributable to agglutinating antibody repertoire

Abstract

Previous observations have shown that individuals migrating from a malaria free area to a malaria endemic region in North Eastern Irian Jaya quickly acquire anti-parasite immunity, in an age-dependent manner. Sera from migrants and long-term residents in this area were examined for their ability to agglutinate a range of Plasmodium falciparum isolates and to disrupt erythrocyte rosettes. Antibody responses to merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) and ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) were also determined. The range of isolates agglutinated by sere from the migrants approached that seen in long-term residents. No difference was found between migrant adults and children in the rang..