Cited by 105Malaria Research and ControlHemoglobinopathies and Related DisordersBird parasitology and diseases

Submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in pregnancy in Ghana

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Mockenhaupt, Frank P., Rong, Birgit, Till, Holger, Eggelte, Teunis A., Beck, Stefanie, Gyasi‐Sarpong, Christian, Thompson, William N. A., Bienzle, Ulrich·2000·Tropical Medicine & International Health

Abstract

Malarial parasitaemia below the threshold of microscopy but detectable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays is common in endemic regions. This study was conducted to examine prevalence, predictors, and effects of submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in pregnancy. In a cross-sectional study among 530 pregnant women in Ghana, plasmodial infections were assessed by microscopy and PCR assays. Concentrations of haemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured and antimalarial drugs (chloroquine, pyrimethamine) in urine were demonstrated by ELISA dipsticks. By microscopy, 32% of the women were found to harbour malaria parasites. This rate increased to 63% adding the results of the parasite-specific PCR. P. falciparum was present in all but one infection. With increasing gravidity, infection rates and parasite densities decreased and the proportions of submicroscopic parasitaemia among infected women grew. Correspondingly, anaemia, fever and evidence of inflammation (CRP > 0.6 mg/dl) were more frequent in primigravidae than in multigravidae. Antimalarial drugs were detected in 65% of the women and were associated with a reduced prevalence of P. falciparum infections and a raised proportion of submicroscopic parasitaemia. Both gravidity and antimalarial drug use were independent predictors of submicroscopic P. falciparum infections. These infections caused a slight reduction of Hb levels and considerably increased serum concentrations of CRP. Conventional microscopy underestimates the actual extent of malarial infections in pregnancy in endemic regions. Submicroscopic P. falciparum infections are frequent and may contribute to mild anaemia and inflammation in seemingly aparasitaemic pregnant women.

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Crossref · 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2000.00532.x

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  1. Eggelte TA, Sondji S & Gussenhove G (1992) Simple dipstick tests for the determination of antimalarials in body fluids. Proceedings XIIIth International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria, Pattaya, Thailand November 29 -December 4 (1992), 2, pp. 242.

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Authors
Mockenhaupt, F. P., Rong, B., Till, H., Eggelte, T. A., Beck, S., Gyasi‐Sarpong, C., Thompson, W. N. A., & Bienzle, U.
Affiliations
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
  • Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
Venue
Tropical Medicine & International Health
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2000-03
Volume
5
Issue
3
Pages
167-173
ISSN
  • 1360-2276 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-3156
OpenAlex
W2033480254
Cited by
105
References
26
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Tropical Medicine & International Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Royal Society
  • Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Malaria Research and Control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Bird parasitology and diseases
Keywords
Plasmodium falciparum, submicroscopic malaria infection, malaria in pregnancy, gravidity, antimalarial drug use, chloroquine, pyrimethamine, C-reactive protein, anemia, malaria prevalence, Ghana
MeSH terms
Adult, Anemia, Animals, Antimalarials, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Fever, Ghana, Humans, Inflammation, Plasmodium falciparum, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimesters, Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic, Prevalence, Malaria, Falciparum, Parasitemia, Gravidity

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