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Complement Fixation in Human Malaria

I. RESULTS OBTAINED WITH VARIOUS ANTIGENS

From the Department of Bacteriology and the Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee

Abstract

1. We have not been able to demonstrate cutaneous or precipitative reactions specific for malaria.

2. Complement-fixation tests have yielded highly specific results in human malaria. A large number of antigens have been tried but the best results have been obtained from use of an antigen prepared from P. knowlesi parasites collected from laked red cells of highly parasitized monkeys. The parasites were washed free of hemoglobin, dried, and ground. When ready for use this material is rehydrated with saline solution, frozen and thawed. Antigens of P. vivax and P. malariae have been prepared in the same manner from human blood.

3. The malarial antigen is group- rather than species-specific since those of P. vivax, P. malariae or P. knowlesi give strong complement-fixation with sera from patients infected with any one of the 3 types of parasites.

4. We have not found that complement-fixation with malarial antigen is modified by pre-existing syphilis.

5. We have observed that Wassermann-negative patients may give a negative Wassermann reaction and a 4+ complement-fixation for malaria at a time when malarial parasites are easily demonstrated in blood-smears.