Placental infection with plasmodium vivax: A histopathological and molecular study

Abstract

Background Evidence of the presence of Plasmodium vivax in the placenta is scarce and inconclusive. This information is relevant to understanding whether P. vivax affects placental function and how it may contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes.Methods Histopathologic examination of placental biopsies from 80 Papua New Guinean pregnant women was combined with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to confirm P. vivax infection and rule out coinfection with other Plasmodium species in placental and peripheral blood. Leukocytes and monocytes/macrophages were detected in placental sections by immunohistochemistry.Results Monoinfection by P. vivax and Plasmodium falciparum was detected by q..