The ears of the African elephant: unexpected high seroprevalence of Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae in healthy populations in Western Africa

Abstract

Background: Malaria Is A Life-Threatening Pathology ln Africa. Plosmodium Falciporum And Plosmodium Vivax Attract The Most Focus Because Of Their High Prevalence And Mortality Knowledge About The Prevalence Of The Cryptic Pathogens Plasmodium Ovole And Plasmodium Malarioe Is Limited. Thanks To Recombinant Tools, Their Seroprevalence Was Measured For The First Time, As Weil As The Prevalence Of Mixed Infections ln A Maldria-Asymptomatic Population ln Benin, A Malaria-Endemic Country Methods: A Panel Of 1,235 Blood Donations Collected Over Ten Months ln Benin Was Used For Validation Of The Recombinant Toois. Recombinant P Falciparum, P Moloriae, P Ovale MSP 1, And P Falciparum AMA 1 Were Engineered And Validated On A Biobank With Malaria-Infected Patients (N = 144) Using A Species-Speific ELISA Test (Recelisa) Results Were Compared To An ELISA Using A Native P Falciparum Antigen (NatELlSA). Results: Among Microscopically Negative African Blood Donors, 85% (1,050/1,235) Present Antibodies Directed To Native P Falciparum, 944% (1,166/1,235) To rPfMSP1 And rPfAMA1, 56.8% (702/1,235) To rPoMSP1, 675% (834/1235) To rPmMSPl And 45.3% Of The Malaria Seropositive Population Had Antibodies Recognizing The Three Species. Conclusion: A High Rate Of Antibodies Against P Ovale And P Maloriae Was Found ln Asymptomatic Blood Donors. The Proportion Of Mixed Infedions Involving Three Species Was Also Unexpected. These Data Suggest That Determining Seroprevalence For These Cryptic Species Is An Appropriate Tooi To Estimate Their Incidence, At The Eve Of Upcoming Anti-P Falciporum Vaccination Campaigns.