Normal frequency of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in hyperendemic areas of malaria: relevance to the understanding of autoantibody formation in malaria.

Sera from 280 inhabitants from the Upper-Volta villages of Donsé and Oursi were screened for the presence of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg Ab) by the classical passive haemagglutination technique. Precipitant malarial antibodies and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) levels were concomitantly evaluated. Although 90% of the individuals studied had antibodies against malaria, a disease known to be associated with autoantibody (auto-Ab) production a normal frequency of anti-Tg Ab was observed in both Donsé and Oursi villages. This normal frequency of anti-Tg Ab contrasting to the previously reported increased frequency of other auto-Ab in individuals exposed to malaria, is additional evidence that the auto-Ab production that takes place during malaria infection is not the result of a generalized and non-specific activation of autoreactive cells by parasite derived mitogens.