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Comment by senshan

3 hours ago

Right. If one lives in an area prone to malaria, has good immune system, will the body tend to carry the antibodies all the time?

4 comments

senshan

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colingauvin  3 hours ago

Yes, which is why the immunological tests done in 2006 were not seen as conclusive. However, this time they found actual plasmodium DNA which suggests active infection at time of death. Including from two species, suggesting double infection. Fun.

  • prmph  31 minutes ago

    I live in Ghana, we have malaria as a common (not too common though) ailment. I have also had malaria several times, though the last time was almost 9 years ago.

    As I understand it, some malaria parasites can remain dormant in the body for a long time. Clinical symptoms develop once the parasite burden and immune response become sufficient to cause illness.

    Not sure if the couple had made trips to Tuscany before the last one, but it is interesting they found two species of malaria pathogens.

    I thought that was also an interesting angle to consider.