ANTI-SSDNA AND ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN MALARIA

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (2) , 310-316
Abstract
The incidence of serum antinuclear antibodies and serum antibodies to single stranded (ss) and double stranded (ds) DNA was investigated following acute malaria in 58 Caucasians visiting tropical countries but residing in Britain [UK] and in 24 Ghanaians residing in Ghana. In Caucasians this infection was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of speckled antinuclear antibodies (38% compared to 3% in controls; P < 0.001) and a significant rise in antibody levels against ssDNA (14% compared to 5%; P < 0.05), but no rise in antibodies against dsDNA. Acute malaria in Ghanaians was associated with an incidence of 25% of antinuclear antibodies and 4% of antibodies to ssDNA; these were similar to those found in healthy Ghanaians who are chronically exposed to malaria. Antibodies against dsDNA were not detected. The incidence of antinuclear antibodies and levels of anti-ssDNA antibodies was higher in the Ghanaian healthy population than in normal Caucasians. Apparently, malaria is associated with the development of antinuclear and anti-ssDNA antibodies. Ghanaian patients with a tropical splenomegaly syndrome or with a nephrotic syndrome, both of which conditions are suspected of having a malarial etiology, had serum levels of anti-ssDNA higher than healthy controls. This observation adds further circumstantial evidence to the role of malaria in causing anti-DNA antibodies.