[Seroepidemiology of malaria in a residual focus in Algeria: Khemis El Kechua district].

The residual focus of Khemis el Kechna represented in 1981 nearly the totality of the autochtonous cases detected in Algeria that year (51 cases/53 cases). Control measures were applied during 3 successive years, the number of cases dropped from 51 in 1981 to 18 in 1982 and to 0 in 1983. In order to confirm the interruption of malaria transmission a sero-epidemiological study was carried out in 1984. The analysis of serological results by age, time and place of residence led to the conclusion that malaria transmission no longer occurs. A comparison of the serological results obtained by two blood sampling techniques (serum/dried blood on filter paper) confirmed the reliability of the results when eluted dried blood is used. A statistically significant difference was observed between the proportions of positives sera according to the antigen species used (P. falciparum culture strain or P. vivax obtained from patient originating from India.