Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (GARJMMS) ISSN: 2315-5159
January 2013 Vol. 2(1), pp. 001-005
Copyright © 2013 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Does placental malaria infection impairs the passage of measles antibodies from mothers to their newborn infants?

Baba Usman Ahmadu¹, Rabasa Adamu Ibrahim², Bukbuk David³, Musa Alhaji Bukar⁴, Bashir Faruk², Chama Rejoice², Abdulrahim Halima² and Fate Bala Zira⁵

¹Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa, Nigeria.
²Department of Paediatrics, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno, Nigeria.
³Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Histopathology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno, Nigeria.
⁵Department of health services Federal Polytechnic Mubi Adamawa state Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: ahmadu4u2003@yahoo.com; Phone: +2348033668948

Accepted 08 January, 2013

Abstract

Infants are protected from measles by maternal measles antibodies (MMA). The level of these antibodies in infants at birth depends on maternal levels and the extent of placental transfer, which can be impaired by placental malaria. The efficiency of transplacental transfer of MMA was assessed in relation to placental malaria in Maiduguri. A hospital based cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 104 mother-infant pairs. Subjects were selected using systematic random sampling and tested for MMA at delivery. Placental tissues for the diagnosis of placental malaria infection were also obtained. Correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship of MMA of mother-infant pairs and Student t test was used to test for significance of means. Fifty eighty (55.8 %) newborn infants had mothers diagnosed with placental malaria. Of these, nine (8.7 %) newborn infants had unprotective levels of MMA. Correlation of MMA in mother-infant pairs was significant (p = 0.003). Overall mean (SD) MMA of newborn infants was 208.81 (75.46), 95 CI (194.13 – 223.48). While mean (SD) MMA of newborn infants of mothers with placental malaria was 194.60 (83.42), 95 CI (172.67 – 216.54), those whose mothers were uninfected was 226.72 (60.28), 95 CI (208.82 – 244.61), and comparison of these means was significant (p = 0.030). Placental malaria infection was associated with reduction of MMA in our newborn infants.

Keywords: Placental malaria, maternal measles antibodies, newborn infants, Maiduguri.