Cord Malaria Infection, Complement Activation, Oxidative Stress, Gestational Age, and Birth Weight, Characterized by High Plasmodium falciparum Prevalence in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Oumar Mahamat,Ntonifor Ngum Helen,Sumo Laurentine,Kidio Gisele Ndum

doi:10.1155/2020/7209542

Abstract

Background It is unknown whether the presence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites in umbilical cord blood denotes activation of complement and oxidative stress to affect the duration of pregnancy and birth weight. Methods In a cross-sectional study conducted from January to April 2019 in Bamenda, Cameroon, cord blood samples were collected from 300 women at delivery. Parasitaemia was determined microscopically. Babies' weight and age of gestation were recorded. Plasma levels of complement and oxidative stress were measured by specific tests. Results Cord blood malaria prevalence was 21.33%. Babies with an infected cord showed a low birth weight and gestation age than those with uninfected cords. More babies with infected cords had LBW (6.25%) compared to the counterparts (5.50%). The levels of parasitaemia and the babies' weight showed a weak positive correlation. The prevalence of preterm and postterm birth was 4.33% and 24.33% respectively, with a weak negative correlation between the age of gestation and the umbilical cord parasitaemia. There was correlation between cord parasitaemia and levels of complement haemolytic activity titter (CH50) and specific classical pathway activity (CPA) in cord blood. CH50 and CPA levels, however, were significantly higher in infected cord blood samples, compared with uninfected cord blood samples. CH50 showed a negative correlation with the birth weight and gestational age in infected cord blood samples. The levels of total oxidative stress (TOS) and total antioxidant defense were significantly lower in infected cord blood than uninfected. TOS displayed a positive correlation with the density of parasitaemia and a weak negative correlation with the birth weight and gestational age in infected cord blood. Conclusion Cord blood infection lowers the complement haemolytic titter, oxygen radicals and total antioxidant defense in neonates. This lowering of complement haemolytic titter and oxygen radical compounds in umbilical cord malaria are associated with low birth weight and preterm birth.

Highlights

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites belonging to the Plasmodium genus. e parasites are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
In Cameroon, in 2013 for example, 28.7% of the population in health facilities consulted for malaria, and this scourge was responsible for 22% deaths in general population and 29 to 28% in neonates [2, 3]
Oxygen radicals have been demonstrated to be important for the clearance of parasites [25, 26]. erefore, low oxygen radicals as observed in this study suggest that the high prevalence of umbilical cord malaria may demonstrate inactivity of immune cells, notably phagocytes, the main source of oxygen radicals

Summary

Introduction

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites belonging to the Plasmodium genus. e parasites are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Mother malariarelated low birth weight is estimated to up to 20% in an endemic area, with a relatively high risk of preterm delivery [4, 9] It is unknown whether the presence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites in umbilical cord blood denotes activation of complement and oxidative stress to affect the duration of pregnancy and birth weight. CH50 showed a negative correlation with the birth weight and gestational age in infected cord blood samples. TOS displayed a positive correlation with the density of parasitaemia and a weak negative correlation with the birth weight and gestational age in infected cord blood. Is lowering of complement haemolytic titter and oxygen radical compounds in umbilical cord malaria are associated with low birth weight and preterm birth Cord blood infection lowers the complement haemolytic titter, oxygen radicals and total antioxidant defense in neonates. is lowering of complement haemolytic titter and oxygen radical compounds in umbilical cord malaria are associated with low birth weight and preterm birth

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