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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 78(5), 2008, pp. 733-735
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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SHORT REPORT


Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-rich Protein II in Saliva of Malaria Patients

Nana O. Wilson, Andrew A. Adjei, Winston Anderson, Stella Baidoo, AND Jonathan K. Stiles*
Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Ghana Medical School, Department of Pathology, Accra, Ghana; Howard University, Department of Biology, Washington, District of Columbia; Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Department of Hematology, Child Health Laboratory, Accra, Ghana

 

ABSTRACT

Detection of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in patients with malaria necessitates drawing blood, which increases the risk of accidental infections and is poorly accepted in communities with blood taboos. Thus, non-invasive, cost-effective malaria tests that minimize the need for blood collection are needed. Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein II (PfHRP II) levels in plasma and saliva were compared in malaria–positive and –negative patients in Ghana. Plasma and saliva obtained from 30 thick-film positive and 10 negative children were evaluated for PfHRP II by ELISA. Among the 30 children with positive blood smear, 16 (53%) were PfHRP II positive in plasma and 13 (43%) had PfHRP II positive saliva. The sensitivity of PfHRP II detection was 53% for plasma and 43% for saliva. The specificity was 100% with no false positive for both plasma and saliva when compared with blood smear. Thus, rapid detection of PfHRP II antigen in saliva may be a useful non-invasive and cost-effective malaria diagnostic technique.

Received December 19, 2007. Accepted for publication February 15, 2008.

Acknowledgments: The authors acknowledge Clement Adu-Gyamfi and Opuni Asiedu for technical assistance and Chelsea Glass, Nathan McGinnis, and September Hesse of Morehouse School of Medicine for participation in sample analysis and the patients and their guardians for providing permission to use samples. The authors are grateful to the laboratory staff of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals’ Child Health Department.

Financial support: This investigation received financial support from WHO/UNDP/TDR Collaborative Research Grant (A00524) and National Institutes of Health grant numbers NIH-RCMI (RR03034), NIH-NIGM-MBRS (SO6GM08248), and NIH-FIC (R21TW006804-01).

* Address correspondence to Jonathan K. Stiles, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. E-mail: jstiles{at}msm.edu

Authors’ addresses: Nana O. Wilson, Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, BMSB Room 350, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, Tel: 404-742-1765, Fax: 404-752-1179, E-mail: nwilson{at}msm.edu. Andrew A. Adjei, University of Ghana Medical School, Department of Pathology Accra, Ghana, Tel: +233-20-813-5979, Fax: +233-21-668286, E-mail: andrewadjei50{at}hotmail.com. Winston Anderson, Howard University, Department of Biology, Just Hall, 415 College St. NW, Washington, DC 20059, Tel: 202-806-6933, E-mail: wanderson{at}howard.edu. Stella Baidoo, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Department of Hematology, Child Health Laboratory, Accra, Ghana, Tel: +233-20-832-7836, E-mail: nanakosua2004{at}yahoo.co.uk. Jonathan K. Stiles, Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, BMSB Room 349D, 720 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, Tel: 404-742-1586, Fax: 404-752-1179, E-mail: jstiles{at}msm.edu






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