title: Antibody response against three Plasmodium falciparum merozoite antigens in Mamuju District, West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria endemicity in the archipelago of Indonesia varies substantially across regions. Following the government's plan for a malaria elimination programme in Indonesia, baseline malaria surveys were conducted in Mamuju District, West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia to re-assess the malaria situation prior to the establishment of an evidence-based malaria elimination programme in the area. The present study aims to determine the antibody response to three merozoite antigens among the inhabitants of the district.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antibodies were measured following elution from filter-paper blood spots collected during cross-sectional surveys in the dry and wet season in 2010. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using three merozoite antigens, MSP2, EBA175 and PfRh2a were conducted. A positivity threshold was determined by samples from unexposed individuals and the difference in antibody level against each antigen and correlation of antibody level in different age groups and seasons were statistically analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 497 subjects, 248 in dry and 249 in wet season, aged between 0.6 and 78 years were included. The prevalence of positive antibody responses to MSP2, EBA175 and PfRh2a antigens in dry season were 27.82, 27.42 and 25.81%, respectively. In wet season, the antibody prevalences were 64.26, 64.66 and 61.45%. The antibody levels to the three antigens were all higher in older age groups and also significantly higher in the wet season. The antibody levels also correlated positively with the Plasmodium falciparum infection status of the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSP2, EBA175 and PfRh2a induce antibody responses among the subjects in Mamuju District, and the prevalence is significantly higher in wet season. The level of antibody also correlates significantly with age and malaria positivity. The overall results indicate the antigens might be used as a target for vaccines against P. falciparum infection and as markers for malaria exposure.
authors.forename: Nurhayana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sennang
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogerson
authors.forename: Sitti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wahyuni
authors.forename: Irawan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. din@eijkman.go.id.
authors.forename: Din
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Syafruddin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D052940:Merozoites / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C551090:Rh2a protein, Plasmodium falciparum; C065668:erythrocyte-binding antigen 175, Plasmodium; C065974:merozoite surface protein 2, Plasmodium