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Placental Infection With Plasmodium vivax: A Histopathological and Molecular Study

Mayor, Alfredo ; Bardají, Azucena ; Felger, Ingrid ; King, Christopher L. ; Cisteró, Pau ; Dobaño, Carlota ; Stanisic, Danielle I. ; Siba, Peter ; Wahlgren, Mats ; del Portillo, Hernando ; Mueller, Ivo ; Menéndez, Clara ; Ordi, Jaume ; Rogerson, Stephen

In: The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2012, vol. 206, no. 12, p. 1904-1910

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    Title
    • Placental Infection With Plasmodium vivax: A Histopathological and Molecular Study
    Author
    • Mayor, Alfredo. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Bardají, Azucena. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Felger, Ingrid. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
    • King, Christopher L.. Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Veterans' Affairs Research Service, Cleveland, Ohio
    • Cisteró, Pau. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Dobaño, Carlota. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Stanisic, Danielle I.. The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
    • Siba, Peter. Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang
    • Wahlgren, Mats. Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
    • del Portillo, Hernando. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Mueller, Ivo. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Menéndez, Clara. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Ordi, Jaume. Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
    • Rogerson, Stephen. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2012, vol. 206, no. 12, p. 1904-1910. Oxford University Press
    Other Version
    Classification
    • Health
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:304942
    Summary
    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 qPCR in 8 and 10 placentas, respectively. Seven of the 8 women with P. vivax placental monoinfection were negative in peripheral blood. By histology, 3 placentas with P. vivax monoinfection showed parasitized erythrocytes in the intervillous space but no hemozoin in macrophages nor increased intervillous inflammatory cells. In contrast, 7 placentas positive for P. falciparum presented parasites and hemozoin in macrophages or fibrin as well as intervillous inflammatory infiltrates. Conclusions. Plasmodium vivax can be associated with placental infection. However, placental inflammation is not observed in P. vivax monoinfections, suggesting other causes of poor delivery outcomes associated with P. vivax infection