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Naheda A, Aqeel S, Khan K, Khan W, Khan T. Immunohistopathological changes in the placenta of malaria-infected women in unstable transmission setting of Aligarh. Placenta 2022; 127:52-61. [PMID: 35970103 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pregnant women are more susceptible to malaria due to a combination of physiological and immunological changes. The infection may even affect the growth and survival of the foetus, which mainly occur when parasite enters the placenta. The sequestration of infected erythrocytes may trigger the host response, leading to placental inflammation and altered development, affecting the structure and nutrient transport of placenta. These factors collectively impair placental functions and affect foetal growth. METHODS Pregnant women with peripheral parasitaemia for P. falciparum and P. vivax (20 each) were included in the present study, along with 15 age-matched uninfected healthy pregnant women. Placentae were analysed for the presence of local parasitaemia along with pathological lesions caused due to the parasite. Immunohistochemical staining for CD20, CD45 and CD68 cells was performed for examining the specific leucocytes in the intervillous space of the placenta. RESULTS Of the 20 individuals with P. falciparum, only seven placentae showed parasitaemia, whereas individuals with P. vivax showed no placental infection. The pathological changes observed in the P. falciparum-infected placenta include syncytial knotting, excess fibrinoid deposition, syncytiotrophoblast necrosis, syncytial rupture, thickening of trophoblast basement membrane and increased collagen deposition. Immunohistochemical staining showed a significant increase in B cells (CD20), leucocytes (CD45) and monocytes and macrophages (CD68) in the P. falciparum-infected placenta (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION The result implies that P. falciparum is responsible for pathological alterations in placenta, affecting the nutrient transport across placenta and foetal growth. The immune cells also migrate to the placenta and accumulate in the intervillous space to show humoral and cell-mediated immunity against the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansari Naheda
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
| | - Sana Aqeel
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Khadija Khan
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Wajihullah Khan
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
| | - Tamkin Khan
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
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Yimam Y, Nateghpour M, Mohebali M, Abbaszadeh Afshar MJ. A systematic review and meta-analysis of asymptomatic malaria infection in pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A challenge for malaria elimination efforts. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248245. [PMID: 33793584 PMCID: PMC8016273 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where malaria transmission is stable, malaria infection in pregnancy adversely affects pregnant women, fetuses, and newborns and is often asymptomatic. So far, a plethora of primary studies have been carried out on asymptomatic malaria infection in pregnant women in SSA. Nevertheless, no meta-analysis estimated the burden of asymptomatic malaria infection in pregnant women in SSA, so this meta-analysis was carried out to bridge this gap. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and ProQuest were systematically searched for relevant studies published until 4 August 2020, and also the expansion of the search was performed by October 24, 2020. We assessed heterogeneity among included studies using I-squared statistics (I2). Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of the funnel plot and further quantitatively validated by Egger’s and Begg’s tests. The pooled prevalence and pooled odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were estimated using the random-effects model in Stata 15 software. Results For this meta-analysis, we included 35 eligible studies. The overall prevalence estimate of asymptomatic Plasmodium infection prevalence was 26.1%% (95%CI: 21–31.2%, I2 = 99.0%). According to species-specific pooled prevalence estimate, Plasmodium falciparum was dominant species (22.1%, 95%CI: 17.1–27.2%, I2 = 98.6%), followed by Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale, respectively, found to be 3% (95%CI: 0–5%, I2 = 88.3%), 0.8% (95%CI: 0.3–0.13%, I2 = 60.5%), and 0.2% (95%CI: -0.01–0.5%, I2 = 31.5%). Asymptomatic malaria-infected pregnant women were 2.28 times more likely anemic (OR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.66–3.13, I2 = 56.3%) than in non-infected pregnant women. Asymptomatic malaria infection was 1.54 times higher (OR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.28–1.85, I2 = 11.5%) in primigravida women compared to multigravida women. Conclusion In SSA, asymptomatic malaria infection in pregnant women is prevalent, and it is associated with an increased likelihood of anemia compared to non-infected pregnant women. Thus, screening of asymptomatic pregnant women for malaria and anemia should be included as part of antenatal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonas Yimam
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Computational Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Mehdi Nateghpour
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Centers for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Abbaszadeh Afshar
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
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Ategeka J, Kakuru A, Kajubi R, Wasswa R, Ochokoru H, Arinaitwe E, Yeka A, Jagannathan P, Kamya MR, Muehlenbachs A, Chico RM, Dorsey G. Relationships Between Measures of Malaria at Delivery and Adverse Birth Outcomes in a High-Transmission Area of Uganda. J Infect Dis 2021; 222:863-870. [PMID: 32249917 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical trials of interventions for preventing malaria in pregnancy often use measures of malaria at delivery as their primary outcome. Although the objective of these interventions is to improve birth outcomes, data on associations between different measures of malaria at delivery and adverse birth outcomes are limited. METHODS Data came from 637 Ugandan women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy. Malaria at delivery was detected using peripheral and placental blood microscopy, placental blood loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and placental histopathology. Multivariate analyses were used to estimate associations between measures of malaria at delivery and risks of low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth (PTB). RESULTS Detection of malaria parasites by microscopy or LAMP was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. Presence of malaria pigment detected by histopathology in ≥30% of high-powered fields was strongly associated with LBW (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 3.42, P = .02) and SGA (aRR = 4.24, P < .001) but not PTB (aRR = 0.88, P = .87). CONCLUSIONS A semiquantitative classification system based on histopathologically detected malaria pigment provided the best surrogate measure of adverse birth outcomes in a high-transmission setting and should be considered for use in malaria in pregnancy intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Ategeka
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Abel Kakuru
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Richard Kajubi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Razack Wasswa
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Emmanuel Arinaitwe
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adoke Yeka
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Moses R Kamya
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - R Matthew Chico
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Tilahun A, Yimer M, Gelaye W, Tegegne B. Prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infection and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Fendeka town health facilities, Jawi District, North west Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231477. [PMID: 32315341 PMCID: PMC7173768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In malaria endemic areas, majority of pregnant women may remain asymptomatic but still associated with complications on the mother and her foetus. They also serve as reservoirs and act as transmitters of infection. Despite these effects, the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care has not been yet studied at the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Fendeka town health facilities. METHODS Health facility based cross -sectional study was conducted from February to March 2019. A total of 331 participants were enrolled by using convenient sampling technique. Socio-demographic and associated factors were collected by a face to face interview. All the 331 samples were tested using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy. However, only 83 dried blood spot (DBS) samples out of 331 participants, were collected by using systematic random sampling technique for molecular analysis. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections. Univariate logistic regression was employed to assess factors associated with asymptomatic Plasmodium species infection. Variables with P-value < 0.25 in the univariate logistic regression were selected for multivariate logistic regression analysis model. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and P- values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS Overall, 37 (11.2%) asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections were detected using: RDTs, microscopy and real-time PCR altogether. The asymptomatic Plasmodium species infection prevalence was 17 (5.1%), 30 (9.1%) and 15(18.1%) using RDTs, microscopy and real-time PCR, respectively. Asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections were more likely to occur in primigravida (AOR: 4.51, 95% CI: 1.27-16.03), secundigravida (AOR: 3.87, 95% CI: 1.16-12.93), rural inhabitants (AOR: 4.51, 95% CI: 1.72-11.84) and in participants who did not use indoor residual spray (IRS) for the last one year (AOR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.47-6.66). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infection was 11.2%. Pregnant women who reside in the rural area, primigravidae, secugravidae and those who did not utilize indoor residual spray for the last one year were at high risk of infection. Therefore, routine laboratory diagnosis of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infection among pregnant women should be adopted as a part of the antenatal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adane Tilahun
- Debre-Markos Referral Hospital, Medical Laboratory Service, Debre-Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Mulat Yimer
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Woynshet Gelaye
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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Matteelli A, Caligaris S, Castelli F, Carosi G. The placenta and malaria. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00034983.1997.11813206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Odorizzi PM, Feeney ME. Impact of In Utero Exposure to Malaria on Fetal T Cell Immunity. Trends Mol Med 2016; 22:877-888. [PMID: 27614925 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy-associated malaria, including placental malaria, causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, it has been suggested that in utero exposure of the fetus to malaria antigens may negatively impact the developing immune system and result in tolerance to malaria. Here, we review our current knowledge of fetal immunity to malaria, focusing on the dynamic interactions between maternal malaria infection, placental development, and the fetal immune system. A better understanding of the long-term impact of in utero malaria exposure on the development of natural immunity to malaria, immune responses to other childhood pathogens, and vaccine immunogenicity is urgently needed. This may guide the implementation of novel chemoprevention strategies during pregnancy and facilitate the push toward malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela M Odorizzi
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Margaret E Feeney
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Babakhanyan A, Ekali GL, Dent A, Kazura J, Nguasong JT, Fodjo BAY, Yuosembom EK, Esemu LF, Taylor DW, Leke RGF. Maternal Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Hypergammaglobulinemia Reduces Transplacental Transfer of Immunoglobulin G to Plasmodium falciparum Antigens in Cameroonian Neonates. Open Forum Infect Dis 2016; 3:ofw092. [PMID: 28487863 PMCID: PMC4943556 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofw092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reduces placental transfer of antibodies from mother to the fetus for many antigens; however, conflicting data exist for transfer of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to malarial antigens. The mechanism(s) underlying reduced placental transfer is unknown. Methods. Levels of maternal and cord total IgG, IgG subclasses, and cord-to-mother ratios (CMRs) were measured in 107 mother-cord pairs to 3 malarial antigens: circumsporozoite protein (CSP), apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1), merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1), and tetanus toxoid C-fragment (TTc). Results. Immunoglobulin G levels to CSP and TTc were lower in HIV+ mothers, and cord IgG to CSP, MSP-1, and TTc were significantly lower in neonates born to HIV+ mothers (all P values <.05). The prevalence of mothers with hypergammaglobulinemia was significantly higher among HIV+ women (68%) compared with HIV− mothers (8%) (P < .0001). Maternal hypergammaglobulinemia was associated with reduction in transplacental transfer of antibodies to CSP (P = .03), MSP-1 (P = .004), and TTc (P = .012), and CMRs <1 were found for MSP-1 (odds ratio [OR] = 6.5), TTc (OR = 4.95), and IgG1 to CSP (OR = 3.75, P = .025) in statistical models adjusted for maternal IgG. Conclusions. Data confirmed that HIV infections are associated with lower cord antibody levels to malarial antigens and that hypergammaglobulinemia may contribute to reduced antibody transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Babakhanyan
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu
| | - Gabriel Loni Ekali
- Biotechnology Center, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Research, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
| | - Arlene Dent
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - James Kazura
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - John Tamo Nguasong
- Biotechnology Center, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Research, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
| | | | - Emile Keming Yuosembom
- Biotechnology Center, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Research, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
| | - Livo Forgu Esemu
- Biotechnology Center, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Research, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
| | - Diane Wallace Taylor
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu
| | - Rose Gana Fomban Leke
- Biotechnology Center, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Research, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
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Differential roles of inflammation and apoptosis in initiation of mid-gestational abortion in malaria-infected C57BL/6 and A/J mice. Placenta 2015; 36:738-49. [PMID: 25956987 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Plasmodium chabaudi AS-infection in pregnant A/J and C57BL/6J mice results in mid-gestational pregnancy loss. Although associated with increased systemic and placental pro-inflammatory responses and coagulopathy, the molecular mechanisms that underlie poor pregnancy outcomes in these mice are not yet fully understood. This study investigates the relationships between inflammation, apoptosis and malaria-induced pregnancy loss. METHODS Infection with P. chabaudi AS in early murine pregnancy and term human placental tissues from an endemic setting were assessed by histology, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL staining, real-time PCR, flow cytometry, western blot, and ELISA. RESULTS Quantitative PCR reveals accumulation of lymphocytes and monocytes and upregulation of chemokines that attract these cell types in malaria-exposed mid-gestational A/J conceptuses. Monocyte accumulation is confirmed by flow cytometry and placental immunohistochemistry. Concurrent with initiation of malaria-induced abortion, markers of apoptosis are evident in the junctional zone, but not the labyrinth, of A/J placentae. In contrast, mid-gestation conceptuses in infected C57BL/6J lack evidence for monocyte accumulation, exhibiting low or no in situ placental staining despite trophoblast immunoreactivity for the monokine, CCL2. Additionally, placental apoptosis is not consistently observed, and when evident, appears after malaria-induced abortion typically initiates. Similarly, trophoblast apoptosis in term human placental malaria is not observed. Of those studied, a sole common feature of malaria-induced abortion in A/J and C57BL/6J mice is elevation of plasma tumor necrosis factor. DISCUSSION Consistent with our previous observations, tumor necrosis factor is likely to be a central driver of malaria-induced pregnancy loss in both strains, but likely operates through mechanisms distinct from placental apoptosis in C57BL/6J mice.
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Anemia associated with asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women in the rural surroundings of Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:110. [PMID: 25889703 PMCID: PMC4392875 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1081-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anemia during pregnancy is a well known medical condition most of the time under-recognized as it is overshadowed by the normal physiological condition during pregnancy. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and predictors of anemia among pregnant women residing in the rural surroundings of Arbaminch Town, south Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional community based study was conducted between April and June, 2013. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-economic and socio-demographic characteristics of the pregnant women. Hematocrit (HCT) level was determined to classify the pregnant women as anemic and non-anemic. Diagnosis of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia was done by Giemsa stained blood smear microscopy. HCT < 33%, (HCT ≥ 30% & < 33%), (HCT ≥ 21% & < 30%), and HCT < 21% was used to indicate anemia, mild anemia, moderate anemia, and severe anemia respectively. Results A total of 341 pregnant women participated in this study, out of which 118 (34.6%) were anemic. The median age of the pregnant women was 25 years (Inter-quartile range: 23–29). The mean HCT was 35.2% (95% CI: 34.6%–35.8%) with SD of ±5.5%. Of those 118 anemic women; 73(61.9%) were mildly anemic, 38(32.2%) were moderately anemic, and 7(5.9%) were found to be severely anemic. The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia was 9.1% (31/341). The odds of being anemic were 15.72 times [AOR: 15.72, 95% CI (3.97, 62.22), P-value ≤ 0.001] more likely to occur in parasitemic individuals relative to the non parasitemic pregnant women. Not using insecticide treated bed net (ITN) was a significant predictor of anemia among the pregnant women [AOR: 3, 95% CI: (1.72, 5.22), P < 0.001]. Conclusion This study highlighted the significant association between anemia and asymptomatic malaria among pregnant women in the study area. Therefore, the practice of routine screening for malaria and anemia followed by prompt management should be encouraged to curb the effect of malaria and anemia on the pregnant women as well as her fetus. Further studies should also be in place to test the effectiveness of routine screening for malaria and anemia followed by prompt management.
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Onditi FI, Nyamongo OW, Omwandho CO, Maina NW, Maloba F, Farah IO, King CL, Moore JM, Ozwara HS. Parasite accumulation in placenta of non-immune baboons during Plasmodium knowlesi infection. Malar J 2015; 14:118. [PMID: 25889709 PMCID: PMC4372046 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0631-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placental malaria (PM) causes adverse pregnancy outcomes in the mother and her foetus. It is difficult to study PM directly in humans due to ethical challenges. This study set out to bridge this gap by determining the outcome of PM in non-immune baboons in order to develop a non-human primate model for the disease. METHODS Ten pregnant baboons were acquired late in their third trimester (day 150) and randomly grouped as seven infected and three non-infected. Another group of four nulligravidae (non-pregnant) infected was also included in the analysis of clinical outcome. Malaria infection was intravenously initiated by Plasmodium knowlesi blood-stage parasites through the femoral vein on 160(th) day of gestation (for pregnant baboons). Peripheral smear, placental smear, haematological samples, and histological samples were collected during the study period. Median values of clinical and haematological changes were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's Multiple Comparison Test. Parasitaemia profiles were analysed using Mann Whitney U test. A Spearman's rank correlation was run to determine the relationship between the different variables of severity scores. Probability values of P <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS Levels of white blood cells increased significantly in pregnant infected (34%) than in nulligravidae infected baboons (8%). Placental parasitaemia levels was on average 19-fold higher than peripheral parasitaemia in the same animal. Infiltration of parasitized erythrocytes and inflammatory cells were also observed in baboon placenta. Malaria parasite score increased with increase in total placental damage score (rs = 0.7650, P <0.05) and inflammatory score (rs = 0.8590, P <0.05). Although the sample size was small, absence of parasitized erythrocytes in cord blood and foetal placental region suggested lack of congenital malaria in non-immune baboons. CONCLUSION This study has demonstrated accumulation of parasitized red blood cells and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the placental intravillous space (IVS) of baboons that are non-immune to malaria. This is a key feature of placental falciparum malaria in humans. This presents the baboon as a new model for the characterization of malaria during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith I Onditi
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, PO Box 24481-00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Onkoba W Nyamongo
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, PO Box 24481-00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Charles O Omwandho
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Naomi W Maina
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Fredrick Maloba
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, PO Box 24481-00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Idle O Farah
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, PO Box 24481-00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Christopher L King
- Center for Global Health and Disease, Case Western Reserve University, Wolstein Research Building 4-132, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
| | - Julie M Moore
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, 30602-7387, USA.
| | - Hastings S Ozwara
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, PO Box 24481-00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Ahmed R, Singh N, ter Kuile FO, Bharti PK, Singh PP, Desai M, Udhayakumar V, Terlouw DJ. Placental infections with histologically confirmed Plasmodium falciparum are associated with adverse birth outcomes in India: a cross-sectional study. Malar J 2014; 13:232. [PMID: 24927762 PMCID: PMC4065549 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have assessed placental malaria infections from low transmission areas by histopathology to define their impact and underlying mechanisms. METHODS Peripheral smears and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), placental smears and histological samples, birth weight and gestational age were collected from 2,282 deliveries in three hospitals during a one-year (2006-2007) continuous cross-sectional survey in Madhya Pradesh. Placental histopathology included all 50 cases positive by microscopy or RDT plus 456 randomly selected samples of women negative for malaria by microscopy or RDT. Histological examination included parasites, inflammatory cells, pigment in fibrin, and morphological changes. RESULTS There were 52 histology-positive cases; 38 (73.1%) active (acute and chronic) and 14 past infections. Intervillous parasitaemia was low (60% had < 1% parasitaemia) and monocytosis mostly mild (63%). Compared with uninfected placentas, acute Plasmodium falciparum infections were associated with stillbirth (RR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2-12.1), lower maternal haemoglobin (mean difference: 1.5 g/dL, 95% CI 0.5-2.5), lower birth weight (mean difference 451 g, 95% CI 169-609) and shorter gestation (mean difference 0.8 weeks, 95% CI 0.2-1.4). Chronic or past infections were not associated with these outcomes. Among the 11 peripheral Plasmodium vivax cases, placental parasites were absent, but they were associated with increased placental polymorphonuclear cells. CONCLUSIONS Malaria associated stillbirth and low birth weight in women with low protective immunity may result, at least in part, from a shortened gestation triggered by acute infection, stressing the importance of early malaria detection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dianne J Terlouw
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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Matangila JR, Lufuluabo J, Ibalanky AL, Inocêncio da Luz RA, Lutumba P, Van Geertruyden JP. Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection is associated with anaemia in pregnancy and can be more cost-effectively detected by rapid diagnostic test than by microscopy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Malar J 2014; 13:132. [PMID: 24690179 PMCID: PMC3976674 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In areas of high malaria transmission, Plasmodium falciparum infection during pregnancy is characterized by malaria-related anaemia, placental malaria and does not always result in clinical symptoms. This situation is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection, its relation with anaemia as well as the most cost-effective technique for its diagnosis in healthy pregnant women living in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods In a cross-sectional study design, information on socio-demographic characteristics and cost data were collected in healthy pregnant women attending antenatal care consultations. Plasmodium falciparum infection was diagnosed using rapid diagnostic test (RDT), microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Haemoglobin concentration was also determined. Results In total, 332 pregnant women were enrolled. RDT and microscopy data were available for all the blood samples and 166 samples were analysed by PCR. The prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection using microscopy, RDTs and PCR, were respectively 21.6%, 27.4% and 29.5%. Taking PCR as a reference, RDTs had a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 94.9% to diagnose asymptomatic P. falciparum infection. The corresponding values for microscopy were 67.3% and 97.4%. The prevalence of anaemia was 61.1% and asymptomatic malaria increased five times the odds (p < 0.001) of having anaemia. RDTs were more cost-effective compared to microscopy. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$ 63.47 per microscopy adequately diagnosed case. Conclusion These alarming results emphasize the need to actively diagnose and treat asymptomatic malaria infection during all antenatal care visits. Moreover, in DRC, malaria and anaemia control efforts should be strengthened by promoting the use of insecticide-treated nets, intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and iron and folic acid supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junior R Matangila
- Département de Médecine Tropicale, Université de Kinshasa, B,P, 747, Kinshasa, XI, République Démocratique du Congo.
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Carmona-Fonseca J, Arango E, Maestre A. Placental malaria in Colombia: histopathologic findings in Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum infections. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 88:1093-101. [PMID: 23546807 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on gestational malaria and placental malaria have been scarce in malaria-endemic areas of the Western Hemisphere. To describe the histopathology of placental malaria in Colombia, a longitudinal descriptive study was conducted. In this study, 179 placentas were studied by histologic analysis (112 with gestational malaria and 67 negative for malaria). Placental malaria was confirmed in 22.35%, 50.0% had previous infections, and 47.5% had acute infections. Typical malaria-associated changes were observed in 37%. The most common changes were villitis, intervillitis, deciduitis, increased fibrin deposition, increased syncytial knots, mononuclear (monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes), polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, and trophozoites in fetal erythrocytes. No association was found between type of placental changes observed and histopathologic classification of placental malaria. The findings are consistent with those reported for placental malaria in other regions. Plasmodium vivax was the main parasite responsible for placental and gestational malaria, but its role in the pathogenesis of placental malaria was not conclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Carmona-Fonseca
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe Piedrahíta, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
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Khattab A, Kremsner P, Meri S. Complement activation in primiparous women from a malaria endemic area is associated with reduced birthweight. Placenta 2013; 34:162-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2012.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Revised: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Intravital placenta imaging reveals microcirculatory dynamics impact on sequestration and phagocytosis of Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003154. [PMID: 23382682 PMCID: PMC3561179 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria in pregnancy is exquisitely aggressive, causing a range of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes prominently linked to Plasmodium-infected erythrocyte cytoadherence to fetal trophoblast. To elucidate the physiopathology of infected erythrocytes (IE) sequestration in the placenta we devised an experimental system for intravital placental examination of P. berghei-infected mice. BALB/c females were mated to C57Bl/6 CFP+ male mice and infected with GFP+ P. berghei IE, and at gestational day 18, placentas were exposed for time-lapse imaging acquisition under two-photon microscopy. Real-time images and quantitative measurements revealed that trophoblast conformational changes transiently restrain blood flow in the mouse placental labyrinth. The complex dynamics of placental microcirculation promotes IE accumulation in maternal blood spaces with low blood flow and allows the establishment of stable IE-trophoblast contacts. Further, we show that the fate of sequestered IE includes engulfment by both macrophagic and trophoblastic fetal-derived cells. These findings reinforce the current paradigm that IE interact with the trophoblast and provide definitive evidence on two novel pathogenesis mechanisms: (1) trophoblast layer controls placental microcirculation promoting IE sequestration; and (2) fetal-derived placental cells engulf sequestered IE. Malaria in pregnancy is exquisitely aggressive, causing a range of adverse effects impacting maternal and fetal health. Many of those effects are thought to derive from placental sequestration of red blood cells infected with the malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) eliciting a placental inflammatory response that impairs maternal-fetal exchanges. We developed an experimental system for intravital microscopy to directly observe the course of placental infection in a mouse model of pregnancy-associated malaria. We found that microcirculation in infected placentas showed areas of low blood flow that promote sequestration of infected red blood cells. Furthermore, we observed that sequestered infected red blood cells are targeted and phagocytosed by fetal-derived cells in the materno-fetal interface. This work provides the first ever in vivo evidence that unique placental microcirculatory features promote infected red blood cell sequestration, implying a vascular component in placental malaria pathogenesis. Moreover, we reinforce the notion that fetal-derived cells contribute to the placental response against sequestered infected red blood cells.
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Singh PP, Lucchi NW, Blackstock A, Udhayakumar V, Singh N. Intervillous macrophage migration inhibitory factor is associated with adverse birth outcomes in a study population in Central India. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51678. [PMID: 23272137 PMCID: PMC3521649 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pluripotent factor produced by a variety of cells. It plays an important biological role in the regulation of pregnancy and has been shown to influence malaria pathogenesis. In this study, the levels of MIF in the peripheral, cord and placental intervillous blood (IVB) plasma collected from women residing in a malaria endemic region of Central India was determined and its association with malaria in pregnancy and birth outcomes was investigated. MIF levels were significantly different in IVB, peripheral, and cord plasma, with IVB plasma having the highest MIF levels and peripheral plasma having the lowest. Placental malaria positive women had significantly higher IVB plasma MIF levels than placental malaria negative women, but this relationship was not seen in peripheral or cord plasma MIF levels. In addition, the odds of stillbirth and low birth weight deliveries for the uppermost placental MIF quartile (irrespective of placental malaria status) was significantly higher than that of the lowest placental MIF quartile, supporting the hypothesis that elevated concentrations of placental MIF may be associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puspendra P. Singh
- Regional Medical Research Center for Tribals, Garha, Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh, India
- National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Naomi W. Lucchi
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Anna Blackstock
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Atlanta Research and Education Foundation/VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Neeru Singh
- Regional Medical Research Center for Tribals, Garha, Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh, India
- National Institute of Malaria Research Field Unit, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
- * E-mail:
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Elevated cytokine and chemokine levels in the placenta are associated with in-utero HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission. AIDS 2012; 26:685-94. [PMID: 22301415 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e3283519b00] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether there is an association between cytokine and chemokine levels in plasma isolated from the placenta and HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). DESIGN We designed a case-control study of HIV-infected, pregnant women enrolled in the Malaria and HIV in Pregnancy cohort. Participants were recruited in Blantyre, Malawi, from 2000 to 2004. Patients were women whose children were HIV-1 DNA-positive at birth (in-utero MTCT) or HIV-1 DNA-negative at birth and HIV-1 DNA-positive at 6 weeks postpartum (intrapartum MTCT); controls were women whose children were HIV-1 DNA-negative both at birth and 6 weeks postpartum. METHODS After delivery, blood was isolated from an incision on the basal plate of the placenta. We used a Bio-Plex human cytokine assay (Bio-Rad, Hercules, California USA) to simultaneously quantify 27 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in placental plasma. HIV-1 RNA copies were quantified with the Roche Amplicor kit. RESULTS Levels of interleukin (IL) 4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, eotaxin, IL-1Ra and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) were significantly elevated in placental plasma isolated from cases of in-utero HIV-1 MTCT. In contrast, only granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was elevated in placental plasma isolated from cases of intrapartum MTCT. After adjusting for maternal age, gestational age and peripheral CD4(+) T-cell count, every log(10) increase in placental IP-10 was associated with a three-fold increase in the prevalence of in-utero HIV-1 MTCT. CONCLUSION Elevated cytokine and chemokine levels in placental plasma were associated with in-utero and not intrapartum MTCT. IP-10, which is both a T-cell chemokine and potentiator of HIV-replication, was robustly and independently associated with prevalent, in-utero MTCT.
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Kane EG, Taylor-Robinson AW. Prospects and Pitfalls of Pregnancy-Associated Malaria Vaccination Based on the Natural Immune Response to Plasmodium falciparum VAR2CSA-Expressing Parasites. Malar Res Treat 2012; 2011:764845. [PMID: 22363896 PMCID: PMC3272661 DOI: 10.4061/2011/764845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Revised: 11/28/2011] [Accepted: 11/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy-associated malaria, a manifestation of severe malaria, is the cause of up to 200,000 infant deaths a year, through the effects of placental insufficiency leading to growth restriction and preterm delivery. Development of a vaccine is one strategy for control. Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells accumulate in the placenta through specific binding of pregnancy-associated parasite variants that express the VAR2CSA antigen to chondroitin sulphate A on the surface of syncytiotrophoblast cells. Parasite accumulation, accompanied by an inflammatory infiltrate, disrupts the cytokine balance of pregnancy with the potential to cause placental damage and compromise foetal growth. Multigravid women develop immunity towards VAR2CSA-expressing parasites in a gravidity-dependent manner which prevents unfavourable pregnancy outcomes. Although current vaccine design, targeting VAR2CSA antigens, has succeeded in inducing antibodies artificially, this candidate may not provide protection during the first trimester and may only protect those women living in areas endemic for malaria. It is concluded that while insufficient information about placental-parasite interactions is presently available to produce an effective vaccine, incremental progress is being made towards achieving this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G. Kane
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK
| | - Andrew W. Taylor-Robinson
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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Kattenberg JH, Ochodo EA, Boer KR, Schallig HDFH, Mens PF, Leeflang MMG. Systematic review and meta-analysis: rapid diagnostic tests versus placental histology, microscopy and PCR for malaria in pregnant women. Malar J 2011; 10:321. [PMID: 22035448 PMCID: PMC3228868 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-10-321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Accepted: 10/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During pregnancy, malaria infection with Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax is related to adverse maternal health and poor birth outcomes. Diagnosis of malaria, during pregnancy, is complicated by the absence or low parasite densities in peripheral blood. Diagnostic methods, other than microscopy, are needed for detection of placental malaria. Therefore, the diagnostic accuracy of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), detecting antigen, and molecular techniques (PCR), detecting DNA, for the diagnosis of Plasmodium infections in pregnancy was systematically reviewed. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of RDTs, PCR, microscopy of peripheral and placental blood and placental histology for the detection of malaria infection (all species) in pregnant women. RESULTS The results of 49 studies were analysed in metandi (Stata), of which the majority described P. falciparum infections. Although both placental and peripheral blood microscopy cannot reliably replace histology as a reference standard for placental P. falciparum infection, many studies compared RDTs and PCR to these tests. The proportion of microscopy positives in placental blood (sensitivity) detected by peripheral blood microscopy, RDTs and PCR are respectively 72% [95% CI 62-80], 81% [95% CI 55-93] and 94% [95% CI 86-98]. The proportion of placental blood microscopy negative women that were negative in peripheral blood microscopy, RDTs and PCR (specificity) are 98% [95% CI 95-99], 94% [95% CI 76-99] and 77% [95% CI 71-82]. Based on the current data, it was not possible to determine if the false positives in RDTs and PCR are caused by sequestered parasites in the placenta that are not detected by placental microscopy. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that RDTs and PCR may have good performance characteristics to serve as alternatives for the diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy, besides any other limitations and practical considerations concerning the use of these tests. Nevertheless, more studies with placental histology as reference test are urgently required to reliably determine the accuracy of RDTs and PCR for the diagnosis of placental malaria. P. vivax-infections have been neglected in diagnostic test accuracy studies of malaria in pregnancy.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, Protozoan/analysis
- DNA, Protozoan/genetics
- DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification
- Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods
- Female
- Histocytochemistry
- Humans
- Malaria, Falciparum/diagnosis
- Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology
- Malaria, Falciparum/pathology
- Malaria, Vivax/diagnosis
- Malaria, Vivax/parasitology
- Malaria, Vivax/pathology
- Microscopy/methods
- Parasitemia/diagnosis
- Parasitemia/parasitology
- Placenta/parasitology
- Plasmodium falciparum/isolation & purification
- Plasmodium vivax/isolation & purification
- Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/diagnosis
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/parasitology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna H Kattenberg
- Royal Tropical Institute/Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), KIT Biomedical Research, Parasitology Unit, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Academic Medical Centre, Centre for Infection and Immunity, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eleanor A Ochodo
- Royal Tropical Institute/Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), KIT Biomedical Research, Parasitology Unit, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Academic Medical Centre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kimberly R Boer
- Royal Tropical Institute/Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), KIT Biomedical Research, Epidemiology Unit, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henk DFH Schallig
- Royal Tropical Institute/Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), KIT Biomedical Research, Parasitology Unit, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Petra F Mens
- Royal Tropical Institute/Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), KIT Biomedical Research, Parasitology Unit, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Academic Medical Centre, Centre for Infection and Immunity, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mariska MG Leeflang
- Academic Medical Centre, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Royal Tropical Institute/Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), KIT Biomedical Research, Epidemiology Unit, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Salih MM, Mohammed AH, Mohmmed AA, Adam GK, Elbashir MI, Adam I. Monocytes and macrophages and placental malaria infections in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan. Diagn Pathol 2011; 6:83. [PMID: 21929772 PMCID: PMC3182959 DOI: 10.1186/1746-1596-6-83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal immunity is thought to play a major role in the increased susceptibility of pregnant women to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Few studies exist on immunohistochemical characterization of the placental inflammatory infiltrate. The current study was conducted in Gadarif hospital in an area characterized by unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan. METHOD Ninety three placentae were investigated for malaria histological changes and immunohistochemical study for monocytes and macrophages (CD68). RESULTS While 1(1.1%), 2(2.2%) and 20(21.5%) of the 93 placentae had acute, chronic and past malaria infections, 70(75.2%) had no malaria infections. Monocytes and macrophage (CD 68) were detected in 29 (31.2%) of these 93 placentae. Significantly higher rate of monocytes and macrophage were detected in placentae with malaria infections [11/23 (47.8%) vs. 18/70 (25.7%); P = 0.047] especially in placentae with past malaria infections. Placental malaria infections and monocytes and macrophages cells infiltration were not different between primiparae and multiparae. There was no significant difference in the birth weight between the women with placental malaria infections/monocytes and macrophages cells infiltration and those who had no placental malaria infections/cellular infiltrations. CONCLUSION Significantly higher rate of monocytes and macrophage were detected in placentae with malaria infections. Neither placental malaria infections nor cellular infiltrates were associated with parity or lead to reduction of birth weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdi M Salih
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
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Muehlenbachs A, Fried M, McGready R, Nosten F, Duffy PE. Response to Ordi et al. J Infect Dis 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Parekh FK, Davison BB, Gamboa D, Hernandez J, Branch OH. Placental histopathologic changes associated with subclinical malaria infection and its impact on the fetal environment. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010; 83:973-80. [PMID: 21036823 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Microscopic examination of placental tissue can provide an accurate assessment of malaria infection during pregnancy. In this cross-sectional study of 193 women in Iquitos, Peru, 1.0% and 6.6% had parasites in the peripheral blood as detected by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. However, 22% had placental malaria pigment indicating past, subclinical infections. Placental tissues with pigment from 24 cases were matched by gravidity and month of delivery to 24 controls and histopathologically examined. Cases had significantly higher number of monocytes in the intervillous space (44.7 versus 25.5; P = 0.012). Pigmented monocytes in fetal vessels were present in 33.3% of cases. This study demonstrated that subclinical malarial infection occurred frequently in pregnant women and is associated with increased presence of monocytes in the placenta. Pigmented monocytes in fetal vessels suggest parasites can breach the placental barrier and enter the fetal circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falgunee K Parekh
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Muehlenbachs A, Fried M, McGready R, Harrington WE, Mutabingwa TK, Nosten F, Duffy PE. A novel histological grading scheme for placental malaria applied in areas of high and low malaria transmission. J Infect Dis 2010; 202:1608-16. [PMID: 20929353 DOI: 10.1086/656723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes sequester in the placenta and elicit an inflammatory response that is harmful to both fetus and mother. Histologic measurements during placental malaria might provide surrogate end points for interventional trials, but existing histologic schemes capture limited complexity and are not consistently used among study sites. METHODS Using frozen-section histologic evaluation in Tanzania (high-transmission area), we established a novel grading scheme to separately quantify inflammation and pigment deposition during placental malaria (n = 102). To generalize this method, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded placental samples from Karen women in Thailand (low-transmission area) were selected from among women with documented antenatal parasitemia who were near term (n = 18). RESULTS In the Tanzanian cohort, the inflammation and pigment-deposition scores were independently associated with birth weight, and the inflammation score was associated with chemokine levels. In the smaller cohort from Thailand, both inflammation and pigment scores were associated with birth weight, and the pigment score had an inverse trend with the number of antenatal clinic visits. CONCLUSIONS This semiquantitative pathological grading scheme is simple to implement and captures information that is associated with outcomes in Asia and Africa; therefore, it should facilitate the comparison and standardization of results among clinical trials across areas of differing endemicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atis Muehlenbachs
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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Conroy A, Serghides L, Finney C, Owino SO, Kumar S, Gowda DC, Liles WC, Moore JM, Kain KC. C5a enhances dysregulated inflammatory and angiogenic responses to malaria in vitro: potential implications for placental malaria. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4953. [PMID: 19308263 PMCID: PMC2655724 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2008] [Accepted: 02/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Placental malaria (PM) is a leading cause of maternal and infant mortality. Although the accumulation of parasitized erythrocytes (PEs) and monocytes within the placenta is thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of PM, the molecular mechanisms underlying PM remain unclear. Based on the hypothesis that excessive complement activation may contribute to PM, in particular generation of the potent inflammatory peptide C5a, we investigated the role of C5a in the pathogenesis of PM in vitro and in vivo. Methodology and Principal Findings Using primary human monocytes, the interaction between C5a and malaria in vitro was assessed. CSA- and CD36-binding PEs induced activation of C5 in the presence of human serum. Plasmodium falciparum GPI (pfGPI) enhanced C5a receptor expression (CD88) on monocytes, and the co-incubation of monocytes with C5a and pfGPI resulted in the synergistic induction of cytokines (IL-6, TNF, IL-1β, and IL-10), chemokines (IL-8, MCP-1, MIP1α, MIP1β) and the anti-angiogenic factor sFlt-1 in a time and dose-dependent manner. This dysregulated response was abrogated by C5a receptor blockade. To assess the potential role of C5a in PM, C5a plasma levels were measured in malaria-exposed primigravid women in western Kenya. Compared to pregnant women without malaria, C5a levels were significantly elevated in women with PM. Conclusions and Significance These results suggest that C5a may contribute to the pathogenesis of PM by inducing dysregulated inflammatory and angiogenic responses that impair placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Conroy
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Hospital, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lena Serghides
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Hospital, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Constance Finney
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Hospital, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Simon O. Owino
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - D. Channe Gowda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - W. Conrad Liles
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Hospital, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie M. Moore
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kevin C. Kain
- McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, Toronto General Hospital, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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25
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Daily J, Wylie B. Iron Deficiency during Pregnancy: Blessing or Curse? J Infect Dis 2008; 198:157-8. [DOI: 10.1086/589513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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Diallo M, Aldebert D, Moreau JC, Ndiaye M, Jambou R. Decrease of lymphoid dendritic cells in blood from malaria-infected pregnant women. Int J Parasitol 2008; 38:1557-65. [PMID: 18606411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2007] [Revised: 04/23/2008] [Accepted: 04/27/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Activation of dendritic cells (DCs) during malaria is poorly documented and has mainly been studied in rodent models. We conducted studies in Senegal to better understand the relationship between DC subset activation and susceptibility of pregnant women to malaria. For each woman, samples were collected at delivery from peripheral (WB), placental (PB) and cord blood (CB). The ex vivo phenotypes of DCs were assessed using flow cytometry on whole blood. The percentage of total DCs was the same for malaria-infected or non-infected pregnant women, except for PB where a decrease in DCs was observed during infection. Lymphoid dendritic cells (LDC) also decreased in the three blood compartments of infected pregnant women and less differentiated DCs (ldDCs) increased. During infection, Human Leucocyte Antigen DR (HLA-DR) expression decreased on LDCs, myeloid DCs (MDCs) and ldDCs. IL-10 increased in the three blood compartments. These data demonstrate a modulation of DC sub-populations during placental malaria. A decrease in LDCs during placental malaria could trigger major alterations in the immune response and a change in the Th1/Th2 balance. However, elevated IL-10 observed during infection substantiates a normal micro-environment triggering normal production of DCs. The decrease in LDCs could thus be due to their migration towards spleen or other lymphoid organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamadou Diallo
- Department of Clinical and Parasite Immunology, Institut Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal
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27
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Fetal responses during placental malaria modify the risk of low birth weight. Infect Immun 2008; 76:1527-34. [PMID: 18212078 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00964-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation during placental malaria (PM) is associated with low birth weight (LBW), especially during the first pregnancy, but the relative contribution of maternal or fetal factors that mediate this effect remains unclear and the role of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) has been controversial. We examined the relationship of maternal and cord plasma levels of IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-10, ferritin, and leptin to birth weight for Tanzanian women delivering in an area where there is a high rate of malaria transmission. The placental levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-gamma, increased significantly during PM in primigravid and multigravid women but not in secundigravid women. PM also increased maternal peripheral levels of all inflammatory markers except IFN-gamma but had strikingly little effect on cord levels of these proteins. In a multivariate analysis, placental IFN-gamma was negatively associated (P = 0.01) and cord ferritin was positively associated (P < 0.0001) with birth weight in infected (PM-positive [PM+]) first-time mothers. This relationship was not observed in other mothers, consistent with the epidemiology of PM and disease. Cord leptin had a strong positive relationship with birth weight in offspring of PM-negative women (P = 0.02 to P < 0.0001) but not in offspring of PM+ women (all differences were not significant) in the three gravidity groups. The results confirmed that placental IFN-gamma is related to LBW due to PM during first pregnancies and suggest that fetal ferritin plays a protective role. Because fetal cells are a source of placental IFN-gamma and cord ferritin, the fetal response to PM may modify the risk of LBW.
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Rogerson SJ, Mwapasa V, Meshnick SR. Malaria in Pregnancy: Linking Immunity and Pathogenesis to Prevention. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007. [DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.77.6.suppl.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J. Rogerson
- Department of Medicine (RMH/WH), The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia; Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Victor Mwapasa
- Department of Medicine (RMH/WH), The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia; Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Steven R. Meshnick
- Department of Medicine (RMH/WH), The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia; Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Department of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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29
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Beeson JG, Duffy PE. The immunology and pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2006; 297:187-227. [PMID: 16265906 DOI: 10.1007/3-540-29967-x_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Women in endemic areas become highly susceptible to malaria during first and second pregnancies, despite immunity acquired after years of exposure. Recent insights have advanced our understanding of pregnancy malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which is responsible for the bulk of severe disease and death. Accumulation of parasitized erythrocytes in the blood spaces of the placenta is a key feature of maternal infection with P. falciparum. Placental parasites express surface ligands and antigens that differ from those of other P. falciparum variants, facilitating evasion of existing immunity, and mediate adhesion to specific molecules, such as chondroitin sulfate A, in the placenta. The polymorphic and clonally variant P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1, encoded by var genes, binds to placental receptors in vitro and may be the target of protective antibodies. An intense infiltration of immune cells, including macrophages, into the placental intervillous spaces, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines often occur in response to infection, and are associated with low birth weight and maternal anemia. Expression of alpha and beta chemokines may initiate or facilitate this cellular infiltration during placental malaria. Specific immunity against placental-binding parasites may prevent infection or facilitate clearance of parasites prior to the influx of inflammatory cells, thereby avoiding a cascade of events leading to disease and death. Much less is known about pathogenic processes in P. vivax infections, and corresponding immune responses. Emerging knowledge of the pathogenesis and immunology of malaria in pregnancy will increasingly lead to new opportunities for the development of therapeutic and preventive interventions and new tools for diagnosis and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Beeson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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30
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Abstract
Women become more susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum malaria during pregnancy, and the risk of disease and death is high for both the mother and her fetus. In low transmission areas, women of all parities are at risk for severe syndromes like cerebral malaria, and maternal and fetal mortality are high. In high transmission areas, where women are most susceptible during their first pregnancies, severe syndromes like cerebral malaria are uncommon, but severe maternal anemia and low birth weight are frequent sequelae and account for an enormous loss of life. P. falciparum-infected red cells sequester in the intervillous space of the placenta, where they adhere to chondroitin sulfate A but not to receptors like CD36 that commonly support adhesion of parasites infecting nonpregnant hosts. Poor pregnancy outcomes due to malaria are related to the macrophage-rich infiltrates and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha that accumulate in the intervillous space. Women who acquire antibodies against chrondroitin sulfate A (CSA)-binding parasites are less likely to have placental malaria, and are more likely to deliver healthy babies. In areas of stable transmission, women acquire antibodies against CSA-binding parasites over successive pregnancies, explaining the high susceptibility to malaria during first pregnancy, and suggesting that a vaccine to prevent pregnancy malaria should target placental parasites. Prevention and treatment of malaria are essential components of antenatal care in endemic areas, but require special considerations during pregnancy. Recrudescence after drug treatment is more common during pregnancy, and the spread of drug-resistant parasites has eroded the usefulness of the few drugs known to be safe for the woman and her fetus. Determining the safety and effectiveness of newer antimalarials in pregnant women is an urgent priority. A vaccine that prevents pregnancy malaria due to P. falciparum could be delivered before first pregnancy, and would have an enormous impact on mother-child health in tropical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- P E Duffy
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue, Seattle, WA, USA.
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31
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Taylor DW, Zhou A, Marsillio LE, Thuita LW, Leke EB, Branch O, Gowda DC, Long C, Leke RFG. Antibodies that inhibit binding of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to chondroitin sulfate A and to the C terminus of merozoite surface protein 1 correlate with reduced placental malaria in Cameroonian women. Infect Immun 2004; 72:1603-7. [PMID: 14977967 PMCID: PMC356046 DOI: 10.1128/iai.72.3.1603-1607.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes often sequester in the placenta of pregnant women, producing placental malaria, a condition that can compromise the health of the developing fetus. Scientists are hopeful that a vaccine can be developed to prevent this condition. Immunological mechanisms responsible for eliminating parasites from the placenta remain unclear, but antibodies to the carboxyl-terminal 19-kDa segment of the merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1-19), the ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA), and an erythrocyte-surface ligand that binds chondroitin sulfate A (CSA-L) have been implicated. In addition, antibodies to sporozoite and liver-stage antigens could reduce initial parasite burdens. This study sought to determine if antibodies to the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), liver-stage antigen 1 (LSA1), RESA, MSP1-19, or CSA-L correlated with either the absence of placental parasites or low placental parasitemias. Using a frequency-matched case-control study design, we compared antibody levels in women (gravidity 1 to 11) with and without placental malaria. Results showed that women who were antibody negative for MSP1-19 were at a higher risk of having placental malaria than women with antibodies (P < 0.007). Furthermore, an association between high levels of antibodies that blocked the binding of infected erythrocytes to CSA and low placental parasitemias was observed (P = 0.02). On the other hand, women with high antibody levels at term to CSP, LSA1, and RESA were more likely to have placental malaria than antibody-negative women. Since antibodies to MSP1-19 and CSA-L were associated with reduced placental malaria, both antigens show promise for inclusion in a vaccine for women of child-bearing age.
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32
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Minang JT, Gyan BA, Anchang JK, Troye-Blomberg M, Perlmann H, Achidi EA. Haptoglobin phenotypes and malaria infection in pregnant women at delivery in western Cameroon. Acta Trop 2004; 90:107-14. [PMID: 14739029 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2003.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes have been reported to sequester in the placenta by adhering to chondroitin 4-sulfate during pregnancy. Earlier studies have highlighted higher susceptibility of primigravidae to P. falciparum compared to multigravidae living within the same endemic areas. The haptoglobin phenotype (Hp1-1) has been associated with susceptibility to severe P. falciparum malaria and the presence of Hp in human endometrium has been reported. The possible role of different Hp phenotypes in susceptibility to or protection from placental infection by P. falciparum in both primigravid and multigravid women at delivery in western Cameroon was investigated in this study. Only the three major haptoglobin phenotypes; Hp1-1, Hp2-1 and Hp2-2, were found in the study population with the Hp1-1 phenotype being the predominant (53%). There was no significant difference in the distribution of the three Hp phenotypes between the two gravidity groups. Women carrying the Hp1-1 phenotype had higher parasite prevalences in both peripheral blood (21.6% against 9.1%) and placentas (42% against 16.7%) when compared to those with the Hp2-2 phenotype. The difference in the parasite density between women carrying the Hp1-1 and Hp2-2 phenotypes was statistically significant for placental infection (P=0.001) but not for maternal peripheral blood infection. Placental parasitaemias without peripheral blood parasitaemias were detected in 42.6% of all the P. falciparum positive women while 27.7% of the women had peripheral blood parasitaemias in the absence of placental infection and 29.8% of the women had both placental and peripheral blood parasitaemias. A statistically significant difference was observed between the primigravidae and multigravidae in the parasite density in placental biopsies (P=0.02) but not for maternal peripheral blood parasitaemia. Our data suggest that the Hp1-1 phenotype may play a role in susceptibility to placental infection by P. falciparum during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob T Minang
- Department of Immunology, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
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Perkins DJ, Moore JM, Otieno J, Shi YP, Nahlen BL, Udhayakumar V, Lal AA. In vivo acquisition of hemozoin by placental blood mononuclear cells suppresses PGE2, TNF-alpha, and IL-10. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 311:839-46. [PMID: 14623257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.10.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In areas of high malaria endemicity, women have increased susceptibility to malaria during pregnancy characterized by placental parasitemia. Our previous studies in children with malaria demonstrate that suppression of leukocyte-derived prostaglandin-E(2) (PGE(2)) is associated with enhanced pathogenesis. To examine the role of PGE(2) as an immunoregulatory molecule in placental malaria, PGE(2) was determined in cultured intervillous blood mononuclear cells (IVBMCs) from aparasitemic and parasitemic women. PGE(2) was significantly lower in parasitemic women at all gravidities. Women with a positive antenatal peripheral parasitemia who were negative for placental malaria (PM) at term produced the highest PGE(2) levels. Suppression of PGE(2) was associated with increasing amounts of hemozoin (malarial pigment) acquired during the natural infection. PGE(2) regulatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-10, were non-significantly increased in IVBMC containing an intermediate amount of hemozoin and significantly suppressed in IVBMC with high levels of hemozoin. Results presented here show that in vivo acquisition of high levels of hemozoin by IVBMC leads to decreased synthesis of PGE(2), IL-10, and TNF-alpha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J Perkins
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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34
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Martínez-Espinosa FE, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Alecrim WD. Malaria during pregnancy in a reference centre from the Brazilian Amazon: unexpected increase in the frequency of Plasmodium falciparum infections. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2004; 99:19-21. [PMID: 15057341 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762004000100003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains globally the most important parasitic disease of man. Data on its deleterious effects during pregnancy have been extensively documented in hyperendemic, holoendemic, and mesoendemic areas from Africa and Asia where Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for almost all infections. However, knowledge about malaria during pregnancy in areas where transmission is unstable and P. vivax is the most prevalent species, such as the Brazilian Amazon, is scarce. Here, we report a preliminary cross sectional descriptive study, carried out at the Fundação de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas, a reference centre for diagnosis and treatment of tropical diseases in the west-Amazon (Manaus, Brazil). A total of 1699 febrile childbearing age women had positive thick blood smears to Plasmodium species, between January and November 1997: 1401 (82.5%) were positive for P. vivax, 286 (16.8%) for P. falciparum and 12 (0.07%) carried mixed infections. From the malarious patients, 195 were pregnant. The ratio of P. falciparum to P. vivax infections in the group of non-pregnant infected women was 1:5.6 while it was 1:2.3 in that of pregnant infected ones. Similar rates or even proportionally more vivax infections during pregnancy were expected to occur, in function of the contraindication of primaquine with the resulting increased P. vivax relapse rates. Such an observation suggests that the mechanism of resistance/susceptibility to infection and/or malaria pathogenesis in pregnant women may differ according to Plasmodium species and that the extensively described increase in the frequencies of malaria infection during pregnancy may be specifically due to P. falciparum infection.
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35
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Okoko BJ, Enwere G, Ota MOC. The epidemiology and consequences of maternal malaria: a review of immunological basis. Acta Trop 2003; 87:193-205. [PMID: 12826295 DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(03)00097-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Millions of women who become pregnant in malaria-endemic areas are at increased risk of contracting malaria infection that jeopardises the outcome of pregnancy. The complication of this infection for mother and baby are considerable. In absence of any other reason, it was thought that the increased risk of infection during pregnancy was related to suppression of pre-existing malaria immunity. Although this concept is plausible, the significantly higher risk of maternal malaria and consequences in primigravidae compared with multigravidae suggests that there are more to mere immunosuppression in pregnancy. The mechanisms underlying some of the striking epidemiological and clinical features of malaria in pregnancy could be related to differences in the strains of parasite populations infecting pregnant women occasioned by the cyto-adherent properties of human placenta, presence or absence of anti-adhesion antibodies acquired from previous pregnancies or the elevated production of some pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to parasitisation of human placenta. Malaria infection of placenta causes a shift from Th2 to Th1 cytokine profile that may be detrimental to pregnancy. The increased susceptibility in the first pregnancy can be explained by the absence of anti-adhesion antibody in the primigravida that is being exposed for the first time to a different strain of malaria parasite sub-population that adhere exclusively to chondroitin sulphate A and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the placenta. In reviewing the epidemiology and consequences of maternal malaria, we have highlighted possible immunological and molecular basis that could account for the higher impact of malaria in pregnancy especially among primigravidae. These factors could be the basis for future research and vaccine formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brown J Okoko
- Medical Research Laboratories, PO Box 273, Banjul, Gambia
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36
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Nebuloni M, Pallotti F, Polizzotti G, Pellegrinelli A, Tosi D, Giordano F. Malaria placental infection with massive chronic intervillositis in a gravida 4 woman. Hum Pathol 2001; 32:1022-3. [PMID: 11567235 DOI: 10.1053/hupa.2001.27603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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37
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Sugiyama T, Cuevas LE, Bailey W, Makunde R, Kawamura K, Kobayashi M, Masuda H, Hommel M. Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in Plasmodium falciparum-infected placenta. Placenta 2001; 22:573-9. [PMID: 11440546 DOI: 10.1053/plac.2001.0692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in malarial placenta and related histological changes. Thirty-two malarial and 40 control term placentae were collected at Tanga, Tanzania and examined histologically and immunohistochemically. Malaria infected placentae were further divided into acute (15) and chronic (17) cases according to the presence of malarial pigment. The expression of ICAM-1 on monocyte, syncytio- and cytotrophoblasts, endothelial and stromal cells was assessed. Birthweight was lower and leukocyte counts higher in placentae with chronic infection. Many monocytes were present within the intervillous spaces, especially in placentae with chronic infection, and aggregated with parasitized erythrocytes. Some monocytes were adhesive to the surface of fibrinoid deposits. ICAM-1 expression on monocytes of malarial placentae was significantly conspicuous and correlated to the degree of intervillous leukocyte infiltration. Syncytiotrophoblasts often did not show ICAM-1, even though ICAM-1 was expressed by endothelium and weakly by cytotrophoblasts and stromal cells in both infected and control placentae. These results suggest that the expression of ICAM-1 on monocytes contributes to sequestration of infected erythrocytes within the intervillous spaces and their adhesion to fibrin masses and that ICAM-1 is unlikely to be associated with the direct adhesion of infected erythrocytes to the syncytiotrophoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sugiyama
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
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38
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Procop GW, Jessen R, Hyde SR, Scheck DN. Persistence of Plasmodium falciparum in the placenta after apparently effective quinidine/clindamycin therapy. J Perinatol 2001; 21:128-30. [PMID: 11324359 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jp.7200465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The persistence of Plasmodium falciparum in the placenta after apparently adequate therapy with quinine has been described. We describe this phenomenon in the placenta of a 19-year-old woman with falciparum malaria, who was treated with a combination of quinidine and clindamycin. Although this therapy was effective and diminished her peripheral blood parasitemia from 3% at presentation to almost undetectable at the time of delivery, vast numbers of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes were present in the maternal sinusoids of the placenta. This sequestration of infected erythrocytes produced a local parasitemia in the placenta of 70% to 80%. Additionally, rare Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes were also seen in the fetal blood of the placenta. We review malaria in pregnancy, parasitic involvement of the placenta and emphasize that Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes may persist in the placenta even after clearance of parasites from the peripheral blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- G W Procop
- Section of Microbiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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Ismail MR, Ordi J, Menendez C, Ventura PJ, Aponte JJ, Kahigwa E, Hirt R, Cardesa A, Alonso PL. Placental pathology in malaria: a histological, immunohistochemical, and quantitative study. Hum Pathol 2000; 31:85-93. [PMID: 10665918 DOI: 10.1016/s0046-8177(00)80203-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To characterize the histological changes in malarial placentas and their relationship with parity and maternal and cord parasitemias, we conducted a histological study on 1,179 placentas from Ifakara, Tanzania, an area with intense and perennial malaria transmission. Immunohistochemical and quantitative studies for CD45, fibrin, and villous area were performed in 60 cases. Four hundred fifteen placentas (35.2%) showed parasites (active infections); in 303 of them, parasites co-existed with pigment covered by fibrin (chronic infections), and in 112 only parasites were detected (acute infections). Four hundred seventy-five cases (40.3%) showed hemozoin deposition without parasites (past infections). Of women with parasitized placentas, 46.3% did not show parasites in the peripheral blood. Basal membrane thickening (P = .002), fibrinoid necrosis (P = .004), and prominence of syncytial knots (P = .031) were associated with active malarial infection. No quantitative differences for perivillous fibrin deposition or villous area were found. The most significant association with active malarial infection was intervillous infiltration by mononuclear inflammatory cells (P < .001). Chronic infections were associated with the most severe changes, particularly intervillous mononuclear inflammation (OR, 28.7; 95% CI = 16.0 to 51.5, P< .001). Past infections showed only minimal differences with noninfected placentas. Primiparas showed chronic infections more frequently than multiparas (52% v 15%, P < .001). They also showed significantly higher placental parasitemias and intervillous inflammatory infiltrate. In conclusion, placental histology is more sensitive than peripheral blood examination in detecting malarial infection during pregnancy. Most malarial infections recover during pregnancy, leaving few residual changes in the placenta. Intervillous inflammation is the most frequent finding associated with malaria and is especially severe in primiparas, suggesting that mechanisms other than immunosuppression are responsible for the high susceptibility in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Ismail
- Instituto Nacional de Salud, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Moçambique
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40
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Leke RF, Djokam RR, Mbu R, Leke RJ, Fogako J, Megnekou R, Metenou S, Sama G, Zhou Y, Cadigan T, Parra M, Taylor DW. Detection of the Plasmodium falciparum antigen histidine-rich protein 2 in blood of pregnant women: implications for diagnosing placental malaria. J Clin Microbiol 1999; 37:2992-6. [PMID: 10449488 PMCID: PMC85431 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.37.9.2992-2996.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/1999] [Accepted: 06/07/1999] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant women have an increased susceptibility to infection by Plasmodium falciparum. Parasites may be present in the placenta yet not detectable in peripheral blood smears by routine light microscopy. In order to determine how frequently misdiagnosis occurs, peripheral blood and placental samples were collected from 1,077 Cameroonian women at the time of giving birth and examined for the presence of malarial parasites by using light microscopy. Results showed that 20.1% of the women who had placental malaria were peripheral blood smear negative. Thus, malarial infection was not detected by microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears from approximately one out of five malaria-infected women. Since P. falciparum parasites secrete histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP-2), we sought to determine if detecting HRP-2 in either peripheral plasma or whole blood might be used to diagnose the presence of parasites "hidden" in the placenta. Samples of peripheral plasma from 127 women with different levels of placental malarial infection were assayed by HRP-2-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HRP-2 was detected in 88% of the women with placental malaria who tested negative by blood smear. Additionally, whole blood was obtained from 181 women and tested for HRP-2 with a rapid, chromatographic strip test (ICT). The ICT test accurately detected malarial infection in 89.1% of P. falciparum-infected women. Furthermore, 94% of women with malaria were accurately diagnosed by using a combination of microscopy and the ICT test. Thus, detection of HRP-2 in conjunction with microscopy should improve diagnosis of malaria in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- R F Leke
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
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41
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Sartelet H, Garraud O, Lorenzato M, Rogier C, Milko-Sartelet I, Huerre M, Gaillard D. Quantitative computer image analysis of chondroitin sulfate A expression in placentas infected with Plasmodium falciparum. J Histochem Cytochem 1999; 47:751-6. [PMID: 10330451 DOI: 10.1177/002215549904700604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Most pathological conditions resulting from infection with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum occur as a consequence of the sequestration by several adhesion molecules of parasite-infected red blood cells (IRBCs). Recent reports have provided evidence that placental vascular endothelial ligands for IRBCs were mostly restricted to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). The expression of CSA in malaria-infected placentas was investigated in a prospective case-control study in a hypoendemic area (Dakar, Senegal). The tissue distribution of CSA was measured in the terminal villi by immunostaining combined with image processing in 20 infected and 20 noninfected frozen sections of placenta. The villous surface immunostained by anti-CSA antibody was higher in infected than in noninfected placentas (p<0.03), in placentas with active infection than in those with past chronic infection (p<0.05), and in infected placentas with positive imprints than in those with negative imprints (not significant; p=0.06). Labeling was found in the extracellular matrix and in endothelial and stromal cells of all the placentas. Syncytiotrophoblast immunostaining was detected in all placentas associated with active or active chronic infection (n=7) but in only 4/13 placentas with past chronic infection (p<0.01). The presence of P. falciparum in the imprint was significantly correlated with immunostaining of CSA in syncytiotrophoblasts (p=0.003). These results suggest that CSA can play an important role in the sequestration of P. falciparum in human placentas during the acute phase of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Sartelet
- Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics, Hôpital Principal, Dakar, Senegal
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Ordi J, Ismail MR, Ventura PJ, Kahigwa E, Hirt R, Cardesa A, Alonso PL, Menendez C. Massive chronic intervillositis of the placenta associated with malaria infection. Am J Surg Pathol 1998; 22:1006-11. [PMID: 9706981 DOI: 10.1097/00000478-199808000-00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Massive chronic intervillositis (MCI) is an infrequently recognized placental lesion thought to be of immunologic origin that has been associated with poor fetal outcome. It is characterized by a prominent inflammatory infiltrate in the intervillous space, composed mainly of monocytes and macrophages that can simulate a maternal malignant disorder involving the placenta. The villi are characteristically spared. We report 74 cases of placental malarial infection with morphologic features of MCI. In all cases, the massive inflammatory infiltrate was limited to the intervillous space, which appeared largely obliterated. Increased fibrin deposition and prominent syncytial knots were frequent associated findings. Inflammatory cells were CD45 and CD68 positive, consistent with a monocyte-macrophage population. Some polymorphonuclear leukocytes and scattered T and B lymphocytes were also present. Villi were not inflamed. Malarial pigment was present in all cases, and parasitized maternal erythrocytes were evident in 73 of 74 patients. The histologic pattern of MCI was observed in 17.6% of placentas with malarial parasites. Malarial MCI affected predominantly primigravida women (77%) and was associated with a reduced birth weight, which in 39 (53%) of the infants was less than 2500 g, and a low gestational age. None of the infants with placentas with MCI died in the early neonatal period. Morphologic changes of MCI are seen in a significant percentage of placentas with malarial infection, especially in primigravida women, and are associated with a low birth weight. Malarial infection should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of massive intervillous infiltrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ordi
- Department of Pathology, IDIBAPS Hospital Clínic, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
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Taramelli D, Basilico N, De Palma AM, Saresella M, Ferrante P, Mussoni L, Olliaro P. The effect of synthetic malaria pigment (beta-haematin) on adhesion molecule expression and interleukin-6 production by human endothelial cells. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1998; 92:57-62. [PMID: 9692153 DOI: 10.1016/s0035-9203(98)90954-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of synthetic malaria pigment (beta-haematin, BH) on the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by human microvascular endothelial cells were measured using flow cytometry analysis and immunoenzymatic assay. BH alone did not affect basal levels of ICAM-1, PECAM-1 or IL-6. When added to cell cultures before or with, but not after, lipopolysaccharide or tumour necrosis factor alpha, BH at 1-100 micrograms/mL induced a dose-dependent inhibition of ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 expression and IL-6 production. Cell viability and human leucocyte antigen A,B,C expression remained unaffected. Similar, though more variable, results were obtained using human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These results suggested that accumulation of pigment within endothelial cells following repeated malaria infection reduces local inflammation and parasite sequestration through inhibition of either cytokine production or parasitized erythrocyte receptors on endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Taramelli
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Milan, Italy.
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