Positron Emission Tomography and Organ-Specific Changes in Participants Co-Enrolled in NIH Studies of Plasmodium Vivax Controlled Human Malaria Infection

Background: Malaria is a serious disease caused by parasites spread by mosquitoes. To better diagnose and treat malaria, researchers need to learn more about where the parasites go when they enter a person's body. They want to see if they can locate the malaria parasites in the body using imaging scans. Objective: To learn whether imaging scans can locate parasites in people with malaria. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 to 54 years. They must be enrolled in protocol IRB001970 or IRB002627 for controlled malaria infection. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have blood drawn and a physical exam, including an abdominal exam to check the size of their spleen. Participants for this study will have 2 or 3 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans: The first will be about 3 days before they are deliberately infected with malaria for a different study. The second will be about 13 days later, while they have the disease. The third scan is optional; it will be done about 3 and 1/2 weeks after the second scan. For each scan, participants will receive a radioactive tracer called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). FDG will be injected through a tube inserted into a vein. They will lie on a table that slides through a doughnut-shaped machine. PET/CT uses x-rays to create images of the inside of the body. All participants will have a follow-up visit about 3 and 1/2 weeks after the second scan. The blood draw and physical exam will be repeated. This visit may be combined with the third scan for those who choose it.