Persistence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in infected pregnant Mozambican women after delivery.

ABSTRACT: Pregnant women are susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum parasites that sequester in the placenta. The massive accumulation of infected erythrocytes in the placenta has been suggested to trigger the deleterious effects of malaria in pregnant women and their offspring. The risk of malaria is also high during the postpartum period, although mechanisms underlying this susceptibility are not known. Here, we aimed to identify host factors contributing to the risk of postpartum infections and to determine the origin of postpartum parasites by comparing their genotypes with those present at the time of delivery. To address this, blood samples were collected at delivery (n = 402) and postpartum (n = 354) from Mozambican women enrolled in a trial of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IP

SUBMITTER: Serra-Casas E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3019917 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature