The biological suppression of malaria: an ecological and nutritional interrelationship of a host and two parasites

The interrelationship of malaria and severe ascariasis was studied in Anjouan children with a previously described syndrome of enlarged parotids, localized forehead edema, heavy infestation with Ascaris lumbricoides, and unusual freedom from malaria. After treatment of 37 such children with the ascaricide piperazine, 35 had resolution of parotid enlargement and forehead edema, but 19 developed attacks of malaria. Children treated with placebo had neither resolution of clinical findings nor attacks of malaria. We propose that suppression of the malaria in these children is a nutritional consequence of severe ascariasis and may represent an ecological balance for optimum co-survival of the host and the two parasites.