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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
The Ratio of Monocytes to Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood Correlates with Increased Susceptibility to Clinical Malaria in Kenyan Children
PLoS ONE, Volume 8, No. 2, Article e57320, Year 2013
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Description
Background: Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major cause of illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa. Young children bear the brunt of the disease and though older children and adults suffer relatively fewer clinical attacks, they remain susceptible to asymptomatic P. falciparum infection. A better understanding of the host factors associated with immunity to clinical malaria and the ability to sustain asymptomatic P. falciparum infection will aid the development of improved strategies for disease prevention. Methods and Findings: Here we investigate whether full differential blood counts can predict susceptibility to clinical malaria among Kenyan children sampled at five annual cross-sectional surveys. We find that the ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes, measured in peripheral blood at the time of survey, directly correlates with risk of clinical malaria during follow-up. This association is evident among children with asymptomatic P. falciparum infection at the time the cell counts are measured (Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.7 (95% CI 1.42, 5.01, P = 0.002) but not in those without detectable parasitaemia (HR = 1.0 (95% CI 0.74, 1.42, P = 0.9). Conclusions: We propose that the monocyte to lymphocyte ratio, which is easily derived from routine full differential blood counts, reflects an individual's capacity to mount an effective immune response to P. falciparum infection. © 2013 Warimwe et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Warimwe, George M.
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Murungi, Linda Muthoni
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Kamuyu, Gathoni
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Nyangweso, George M.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Wambua, Juliana K.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Naranbhai, Vivek
United Kingdom, Oxford
The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics
Fletcher, Helen A.
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Hill, Adrian V. S.
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Bejon, Philip A.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Osier, Faith Hope Among In
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Marsh, Kevin
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Statistics
Citations: 62
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0057320
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Environmental
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative