Consistent safety and infectivity in sporozoite challenge model of Plasmodium vivax in malaria-naive human volunteers

Sócrates Herrera, Yezid Solarte, Alejandro Jordań-Villegas, Juan Fernando Echavarriá, Leonardo Rocha, Ricardo Palacios, Oścar Ramiŕez, Juan D. Veĺez, Judith E. Epstein, Thomas L. Richie, Myriam Arev́alo-Herrera

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

A safe and reproducible Plasmodium vivax infectious challenge method is required to evaluate the efficacy of malaria vaccine candidates. Seventeen healthy Duffy (+) and five Duffy (-) subjects were randomly allocated into three (A-C) groups and were exposed to the bites of 2-4 Anopheles albimanus mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium vivax derived from three donors. Duffy (-) subjects were included as controls for each group. Clinical manifestations of malaria and parasitemia were monitored beginning 7 days post-challenge. All Duffy (+) volunteers developed patent malaria infection within 16 days after challenge. Prepatent period determined by thick smear, was longer for Group A (median 14.5 d) than for Groups B and C (median 10 d/each). Infected volunteers recovered rapidly after treatment with no serious adverse events. The bite of as low as two P. vivax -infected mosquitoes provides safe and reliable infections in malaria-naive volunteers, suitable for assessing antimalarial and vaccine efficacy trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4-11
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume84
Issue number2 S
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Parasitology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Consistent safety and infectivity in sporozoite challenge model of Plasmodium vivax in malaria-naive human volunteers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this