Journal article

Malaria preventive therapy in pregnancy and its potential impact on immunity to malaria in an area of declining transmission

A Teo, W Hasang, LM Randall, HW Unger, PM Siba, I Mueller, GV Brown, SJ Rogerson

Malaria Journal | BIOMED CENTRAL LTD | Published : 2015

Abstract

© 2015 Teo et al.; licensee BioMed Central.Background: Regular anti-malarial therapy in pregnancy, a pillar of malaria control, may affect malaria immunity, with therapeutic implications in regions of reducing transmission. Methods: Plasma antibodies to leading vaccine candidate merozoite antigens and opsonizing antibodies to endothelial-binding and placental-binding infected erythrocytes were quantified in pregnant Melanesian women receiving sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) with chloroquine taken once, or three courses of SP with azithromycin. Results: Malaria prevalence was low. Between enrolment and delivery, antibodies to recombinant antigens declined in both groups (p < 0.0001). In contra..

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