RESUMO
Slightly modified by us for the sake of efficiency, the protein-tyrosin serodiagnostic test of Proske and Watson for malaria was studied in 1,872 human blood serums, of which 1,491 were obtained from normal individuals, 239 from non-malarious,serologically syphilitic cases, and 142 from malaria casesIn normal blood serums, we have found that the tyrosin index for euglobulin fluctuates from 10 to 100, but only 0.9% showed T.I. ranging from 85 to 100, almost all cases, 99.1% registering T.I.of 10 to 80, while the great majority, 83.1%, exhibit tyrosin indices under 45. On the other hand, in serums from malaria patients, the T.I. ranges from 50 to 240 or higher. The test was found indicative of the presence of malaria in 94.5-100 per cent of known malaria cases examined, as compared with 73.9 per cent positive thick blood films examined at the same timeIn non-malarious serologically syphilitic blood serums, we have found that the tyrosin index for euglobulin fluctuates between 10 and 240, only 20% of them registering tyrosin indices higher than 80High tyrosin indices in non-syphilitics strongly suggest the need of continued search in the blood for malaria parasites in order to establish the diagnosisThe strongest protein-tyrosin reaction (240) was observed in benign tertian infectionsChronic cases of malaria give higher tyrosin indices than acute casesOur observations confirm those of Proske and Watson as regards the high sensitivity of the protein-tyrosin test in malaria. Its use is warranted as a valuable laboratory aid in the diagnosis of this disease. (Summary and conclusions)