Malaria Antigen Shedding in the Breast Milk of Mothers From a Region With Endemic Malaria

Lieke W J Van Den Elsen,Valerie Verhasselt,Thomas Egwang

doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.5209

Lieke W J Van Den Elsen, Valerie Verhasselt + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.5209

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Abstract

This study examines the association of malaria exposure to malaria antigen in breast milk among lactating women with asymptomatic malaria.

Highlights

More than 200 million cases of malaria occur yearly, with most in Africa, where infants younger than 5 years account for twothirds of all malaria deaths.[1]
We propose what is to our knowledge an original hypothesis: the presence of malaria antigen in breast milk stimulates antimalarial immune defenses and reduces malaria risk in infants who are breastfed
As a critical first step to address this hypothesis, we investigated whether Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 and lactate dehydrogenase are detectable in the breast milk of mothers from Uganda, a country with endemic malaria.[1]

Summary

Introduction

More than 200 million cases of malaria occur yearly, with most in Africa, where infants younger than 5 years account for twothirds of all malaria deaths.[1]. Malaria Antigen Shedding in the Breast Milk of Mothers From a Region With Endemic Malaria As a critical first step to address this hypothesis, we investigated whether Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (pHRP-2) and lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) are detectable in the breast milk of mothers from Uganda, a country with endemic malaria.[1]

Results

Conclusion