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Malaria Journal
Published in: Malaria Journal 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Methodology

Plasmodium berghei bio-burden correlates with parasite lactate dehydrogenase: application to murine Plasmodium diagnostics

Authors: Sai Lata De, Danielle I. Stanisic, Fabian Rivera, Michael R. Batzloff, Christian Engwerda, Michael F. Good

Published in: Malaria Journal | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The spectrum of techniques to detect malaria parasites in whole blood is limited to measuring parasites in circulation. One approach that is currently used to enumerate total parasite bio-burden involves the use of bio-luminescent parasites. As an alternative approach, this study describes the use of a commercial ELISA human parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) detection kit to estimate total parasite bio-burden in murine malaria models.

Methods

The cross reactivity of pLDH in a commercial human malaria pLDH diagnostic kit was established in different components of blood for different murine malaria models. The use of pLDH as a measure of parasite bio-burden was evaluated by examining pLDH in relation to peripheral blood parasitaemia as determined by microscopy and calculating total parasite bio-burden using a bio-luminescent Plasmodium berghei ANKA luciferase parasite.

Results

The pLDH antigen was detected in all four murine Plasmodium species and in all components of Plasmodium-infected blood. A significant correlation (r = 0.6922, P value <0.0001) was observed between total parasite bio-burden, measured as log average radiance, and concentration of pLDH units.

Conclusions

This high throughput assay is a suitable measure of total parasite bio-burden in murine malaria infections. Unlike existing methods, it permits the estimation of both circulating and sequestered parasites, allowing a more accurate assessment of parasite bio-burden.
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Metadata
Title
Plasmodium berghei bio-burden correlates with parasite lactate dehydrogenase: application to murine Plasmodium diagnostics
Authors
Sai Lata De
Danielle I. Stanisic
Fabian Rivera
Michael R. Batzloff
Christian Engwerda
Michael F. Good
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Malaria Journal / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2875
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-015-1027-2

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