Abstract
The Indian colony under study is located in relatively inaccessible part of the Amazonian jungle, restricting frequent visits. Malaria survey in such a community requires methods which would yield reliable results even from a single visit. Malaria was regarded as a minor disease by the inhabitants who appeared to be free from malaria. The reported incidence was very low, and in fact, no parasitemia was detected in the blood smears of a group of inhabitants obtained through our short visit. But on the contrary, an avidin biotin peroxidase complexed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ABC-ELISA) revealed a 100% prevalence of malaria antibodies in the population. Therefore, serological studies which can obtain the period prevalence are useful for the assessment of malaria situation in the highly endemic community which is not readily accessible, or whose populations seem to have acquired a certain degree of immunity depressing parasitemia to submicroscopic levels.
