Impact of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine on antibody responses to erythrocytic-stage Plasmodium falciparum antigens in infants in Mozambique

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2008 Aug;15(8):1282-91. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00044-08. Epub 2008 May 21.

Abstract

We evaluated the impact of intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), which was given at ages 3, 4, and 9 months through the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), on the development of antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum in Mozambique. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG subclass antibodies specific to whole asexual parasites and to recombinant MSP-1(19), AMA-1, and EBA-175 were measured at ages 5, 9, 12, and 24 months for 302 children by immunofluorescence antibody tests and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Antibody responses did not significantly differ between children receiving IPTi with SP and those receiving a placebo at any time point measured, with the exception of the responses of IgG and IgG1 to AMA-1 and/or MSP-1(19), which were significantly higher in the SP-treated group than in the placebo group at ages 5, 9, and/or 24 months. IPTi with SP given through the EPI reduces the frequency of malarial illness while allowing the development of naturally acquired antibody responses to P. falciparum antigens.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Antimalarials* / administration & dosage
  • Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Combinations
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Malaria, Falciparum / immunology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / prevention & control*
  • Mozambique
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Pyrimethamine* / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimethamine* / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Sulfadoxine* / administration & dosage
  • Sulfadoxine* / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Antimalarials
  • Drug Combinations
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination
  • Sulfadoxine
  • Pyrimethamine