Immunodiagnosis of malaria.

ABSTRACT

Different approaches to immunodiagnosis of malaria in an endemic country have been described in this paper. Demonstration of circulating malaria antigen may be done by gel-diffusion and counter-immunoelectrophoresis. Parasite associated antigen may be demonstrated by highly sensitive methods like radio-immunoassay or enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay. Malaria antibodies of the IgG type being long lasting do not appear to have any role in immuno-diagnosis. However, determination of malaria specific IgM antibodies by P. gallinaceum haemagglutination test or IgM immunofluorescence test may be simple and useful in immunodiagnosis of malaria. The tests though evaluated in different laboratories may not be applicable in the field for diagnosis of malaria at the present moment. However, it is envisaged that with the availability of different specificities of monoclonal antibodies by way of hybridoma technology and also with the help of recombinant DNA techniques immunodiagnosis of malaria in the field situation may become a reality.