Studies on the sero-epidemiology of endemic diseases in Libya, IV. Malaria.

Indirect fluorescent antibody studies were conducted in order to determine possible risk to Libyan communities of malaria, particularly relapsing forms, as a direct result of the presence of large teams of immigrant labour. Two groups of Indians (100 and 81) indicated past exposure to relapsing malaria, measured by Plasmodium fieldi antigen, in the range 42.0-44.0%, to recent/heavy relapsing infection (12.4-19.0%) and to recent/heavy P. falciparum infection (2.5-4.0%). A non-Asian group (149) indicated 8.7, 3.4 and 2.0%, respectively. A group of native schoolboys (106) indicated a total lack of antibodies to any form of malaria. The prospect of the re-establishment of malaria transmission following successful control throughout 20 years past is considered on this basis.