Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33036624›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2020

Comparison of leucocyte profiles between healthy children and those with asymptomatic and symptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections.

Diana Ahu Prah, Linda Eva Amoah, Matthew P Gibbins, Yaw Bediako, Aubrey J Cunnington, Gordon A Awandare, Julius Clemence R Hafalla

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Imaging mass cytometry of the immune microenvironment in alveolar echinococcosis.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Diana Ahu PrahWest African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Linda Eva AmoahWest African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Matthew P GibbinsDepartment of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Yaw BediakoWest African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Aubrey J CunningtonSection of Paediatrics, Imperial College, London, UK.
Gordon A AwandareWest African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Julius Clemence R HafallaDepartment of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Julius.Hafalla@lshtm.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5452-9263
University of Ghana · GHLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · GBImperial College London · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/L006529/1Medical Research Council MR/P028071/1Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust DEL-15-007/107755/Z/15/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe immune mechanisms that determine whether a Plasmodium falciparum infection would be symptomatic or asymptomatic are not fully understood. Several studies have been carried out to characterize the associations between disease outcomes and leucocyte numbers. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted in adults with acute uncomplicated malaria, despite children being the most vulnerable group.

methodsPeripheral blood leucocyte subpopulations were characterized in children with acute uncomplicated (symptomatic; n = 25) or asymptomatic (n = 67) P. falciparum malaria, as well as malaria-free (uninfected) children (n = 16) from Obom, a sub-district of Accra, Ghana. Leucocyte subpopulations were enumerated by flow cytometry and correlated with two measures of parasite load: (a) plasma levels of P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) as a proxy for parasite biomass and (b) peripheral blood parasite densities determined by microscopy.

resultsIn children with symptomatic P. falciparum infections, the proportions and absolute cell counts of total (CD3 +) T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, CD19 + B cells and CD11c + dendritic cells (DCs) were significantly lower as compared to asymptomatic P. falciparum-infected and uninfected children. Notably, CD15 + neutrophil proportions and cell counts were significantly increased in symptomatic children. There was no significant difference in the proportions and absolute counts of CD14 + monocytes amongst the three study groups. As expected, measures of parasite load were significantly higher in symptomatic cases. Remarkably, PfHRP2 levels and parasite densities negatively correlated with both the proportions and absolute numbers of peripheral leucocyte subsets: CD3 + T, CD4 + T, CD8 + T, CD19 + B, CD56 + NK, γδ + T and CD11c + cells. In contrast, both PfHRP2 levels and parasite densities positively correlated with the proportions and absolute numbers of CD15 + cells.

conclusionsSymptomatic P. falciparum infection is correlated with an increase in the levels of peripheral blood neutrophils, indicating a role for this cell type in disease pathogenesis. Parasite load is a key determinant of peripheral cell numbers during malaria infections.

Indexed as

Parasite LoadAntigens, ProtozoanAsymptomatic InfectionsChildFemaleFlow CytometryGhanaHumansLeukocytesMalaria, FalciparumMalePlasmodium falciparumProtozoan ProteinsAntigens, ProtozoanHRP-2 antigen, Plasmodium falciparumProtozoan ProteinsAsymptomaticImmunityLeucocytesMalariaNeutrophilsPathogenesisPlasmodium falciparumSymptomatic

Identifiers

PMID33036624
PMCPMC7547495
OpenAlexW3091888578

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.