Maternal-foetal transfer of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax antibodies in a low transmission setting

Journal article

During pregnancy immunolglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are transferred from mother to neonate across the placenta. Studies in high transmission areas have shown transfer of P. falciparum-specific IgG, but the extent and factors influencing maternal-foetal transfer in low transmission areas co-endemic for both P. falciparumand P. vivaxare unknown. Pregnant women were screened weekly for Plasmodium infection. Mother-neonate paired serum samples at delivery were tested for IgG to antigens from P. falciparum, P. vivaxand other infectious diseases. Antibodies to malarial and non-malarial antigens were highly correlated between maternal and neonatal samples (median [range] spearman ρ = 0.78 [0.57–0.93]), although Plasmodiumspp. antibodies tended to be lower in neonates than mothers. Estimated gestational age at last P. falciparuminfection, but not P. vivaxinfection, was positively associated with antibody levels in the neonate (P. falciparummerozoite, spearman ρmedian [range] 0.42 [0.33–0.66], PfVAR2CSA 0.69; P. vivax ρ = 0.19 [0.09–0.3]). Maternal-foetal transfer of antimalarial IgG to Plasmodiumspp. antigens occurs in low transmission settings. P. vivaxIgG acquisition is not associated with recent exposure unlike P. falciparumIgG, suggesting a difference in acquisition of antibodies. IgG transfer is greatest in the final weeks of pregnancy which has implications for the timing of future malaria vaccination strategies in pregnant women.

Authors: Charnaud, S; McGready, R; Herten-Crabb, A; Powell, R; Guy, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Volume: 6
• Pages: 20859-20859
• Publication date: 2016-02-10
• DOI: 10.1038/srep20859
• EISSN: 2045-2322