The effect of maternal, umbilical cord and placental malaria parasitaemia on the birthweight of newborns from South-western Cameroon.

Aim: The impact of maternal, umbilical cord and placental malaria parasitaemia on the incidence of low birthweight was investigated in pregnant women reporting for delivery at the Mutengene Maternity Centre, Fako Division, South West Province, Cameroon.

Methods: The malaria parasitaemia status of 770 umbilical cords, parturient women and placental impression smears were determined by light microscopy using blood samples collected between June 1999 and September 2001. The birthweights (BW) of the newborns were recorded soon after delivery.

Plasmodium falciparum inhibitory capacities of paired maternal-cord sera from south-west province, Cameroon.

In malaria endemic areas, young children are protected against malaria attack during the first few weeks of life partially by transplacentally acquired antibodies. In this study, we show, using an in vitro assay, that part of these antibodies are involved with blocking the re-invasion of host red blood cells by erythrocytic merozoites. One hundred consecutive paired maternal-cord blood samples were collected at delivery and their plasma assayed for total IgG antibodies against crude blood stage antigens by the ELISA.

Studies on Plasmodium falciparum isotypic antibodies and numbers of IL-4 and IFN-gamma secreting cells in paired maternal cord blood from South West Cameroon.

Objectives: In this study, the effect of maternal peripheral and placental Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia on the level of antibody and cytokine immune responses in the neonate was investigated.

Methods: Malaria parasites were detected by light microscopy. Levels of malaria-specific isotypic antibodies were measured in maternal and cord blood by indirect ELISA.