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Table 3 Phagocytosis of merozoites is associated with a lower risk of multiple episodes of malaria in the low malaria transmission cohort

From: Opsonic phagocytosis of Plasmodium falciparummerozoites: mechanism in human immunity and a correlate of protection against malaria

Ngerenya children

First episode

Multiple episodes

 

IRR (95% CI)

P

IRR (95% CI)

P

Merozoite Phagocytosis

    

Whole cohort (n = 287)

1.25(0.89 to 1.77)

0.186

1.17(0.61 to 2.24)

0.618

Recent exposurea (n = 81)

0.95(0.52 to 1.73)

0.888

0.34(0.13 to 0.85)

0.022

Recent exposureb (n = 40)

0.44(0.19 to 1.01)

0.055

0.13(0.03 to 0.46)

0.001

Merozoite ELISA

    

Whole cohort (n = 287)

1.12(0.73 to 1.72)

0.582

1.18(0.58 to 2.40)

0.641

Recent exposurea (n = 81)

0.77(0.27 to 2.14)

0.618

0.54(0.09 to 3.12)

0.493

  1. Antibodies promoting phagocytosis of merozoites were fitted to age-adjusted multivariate regression models. Results are shown as incidence rate ratios (IRR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and P values. a,bChildren with documented exposure to malaria parasites in the preceding six and three months, respectively. Nearly all children with recent exposure (38/40) in the preceding three months were positive for anti-merozoite IgG by ELISA. Significant results at P < 0.05 are indicated in bold.