Title: Malarial infection of the placenta and foetal Nutrition.

POPLINE Document Number: 018152

Author(s):

McLaren DS
Ward PG
Nyabuzoki JN
Ndalahwa JB
Wilfred E

Source citation:

East African Medical Journal, 1962 May;39(5):182-9.

Abstract:

The data in this study of malarial infection of the placenta and fetal nutrition were otbained from consecutive live singleton births to African women, mostly of the Sukuma, Nyamwezi, and Luo tribes at the Government Hospital, Mwanza (East Africa). Thick smears were made from the maternal side of the placenta and the sex and birth weight of the child noted. The slides were stained with Giemsa stain and each examined by 2 laboratory technicians for at least 1/2 hour by each, i.e., 1 hour in all, before being pronounced negative. Of a total of 400 smears, 21.5% contained malaria parasites and of these 82.6% were Plasmodium falciparum, 14.0% P. vivax, and 3.5% mixed infections. The placenta frequently contained large numbers of schizonts in various stages of growth although the peripheral blood of the mother may have few or no parasites present. Conditions in the placenta would seem to be suitable for the multiplication of malaria parasites in isolation from the rest of the circulation. Some placental smears were so closely packed with segmenting parasites that the appearance resembled that seen in the peripheral blood in cerebral malaria. Biochemical determinations were begun after the placental smear examinations had been under way for some time. Cord blood was taken during the 3rd stage of labor and a sample of venous blood obtained from the mother within a few hours of delivery. Whole blood was taken for hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and ergothioneine determinations, the latter after storage in the deep freeze. In plasma, estimations of proteins and vitamin A were carried out, deep freezing until required. The data of the Nigerian workers and these results are presented in table form for comparison. All showed a lower mean birth weight in the infected group. After division of the data on the basis of sex of the fetus the mean birth weight in the infected males was actually higher than in the noninfected. This tended to minimize the lowering effect of the female group when the sexes were considered together. Sex differences were not apparent for the biochemical data and the pooled results for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, plasma vitamin A, red cell ergothioneine, and plasma proteins did not show any differences between infected and noninfected groups. Vitamin A was selectively absorbed by the fetus in the presence of maternal deficiency.

Keywords:

Tanzania
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Infections
Parasitic Diseases
Fetus
Nutrition
Maternal Nutrition
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Birth Weight
Africa, Eastern
Developing Countries
Diseases
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Health
Body Weight
Physiology
Biology