Effect of trauma on malaria infection

Specific malaria antibody concentrations in the sera of Nigerian patients were estimated before and after elective surgery by the microplate version of the enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Parasitized erythrocytes per 100 leukocytes in Leishman-stained tail blood smears were also counted on the pre- and early post-trauma days in traumatized and non-traumatized (control) laboratory mice previously inoculated withPlasmodium berghei malaria parasites. On the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd postoperative days, specific malaria antibody levels in the sera of Nigerian patients were significantly depressed (p<0.02;p<0.01;p<0.001, respectively) while parasitemia was significantly elevated in laboratory mice with fractured femur (p<0.02;p<0.01;p<0.05, respectively). Increased susceptibility to malaria after severe injury is suggested.